KΛEOΣ

Young Greco-Belgian artist Grigorios Ilaridis presents his debut solo exhibition, "KΛEOΣ" at Base-Alpha Gallery, following a year full of promising developments marked by his participation to Art Brussels, winning the prestigious Mark Macken Prize, and a notable group show at Cultuurhuis de Warande. In this exhibition, Ilaridis explores themes such as the hero's journey, censorship in the arts, and the oral storytelling tradition of ancient Greece, all approached with a playful and often humorous touch.

The title "KΛEOΣ" (kleos) draws from an ancient Greek word symbolizing the glory and fame achieved through heroic deeds and immortalized through oral tradition.

His works emerge from a personal archive filled with photographs from travels, personal memories, art historical references and elements from pop culture. These images are combined into vibrant collages, which then serve as blueprints for layered sculptures crafted from materials like acrylic, bronze, metal, plaster, and wax.