Beautiful portraits between dilapidated buildings, faces in free nature or at an abandoned factory, sometimes socially critical, often emotional, but always personal and direct. Today we present you the art of COSTAS LOUZIS aka SKITSOFRENIS, who has been beautifying urban walls in Greece and the surrounding area with first-class murals for many years.
The portrait works of SKITSOFRENIS are often photorealistic or comic-like, depicting ordinary people, but also famous personalities or even superheroes. He prefers to paint on the walls outside, but over the years he has also made countless pages on paper with sketches and drawings. Many of them can also be found in large format in Athens or other cities in the country, or even somewhere in the woods.
We talked to the great artist in an interview about his work, his development and the art scene in Greece. Below you will get more about the creative world of SKITSOFRENIS, peppered with some of his great works of art.
Throughout the city of Athens and other Greek cities there are numerous fantastic faces or animal artworks made by you. So you are not a graffiti writer who does lettering, you are a character and portrait painter, but you paint on urban walls. Tell us more about that, why do you paint portraits?
I grew up in a small village in southwest Greece, close to the famous Sparta, and my everyday life was full of animals and people, a life that needed team work from everyone to become bette. Therefore no need for egoistic narcissistic lettering. In the face of a human or an animal you can see emotions, pieces of truth, therefore when I search for the truth my investigation begins and ends with that themes.
How do you create your artworks? Do you only use spray cans or as well paint and brushes?
I am a self taught artist, I used for 15 years only spray cans but in an effort to take my art to the next level last year I started using a few brushes here and there.
Tell us a bit about your history. When did you start doing art, how did you develope and how did it come that you went on the walls?
I was drawing from the age of 7 in my small village as a way to kill time because there was no internet back then, no other kids to play. I was sketching many hours a day obsessively, the nickname „Skitsofrenis“ means that, and by the time I was an adult I had sketched thousands of hours. In October of 2008 I was asked to paint a environmental message on small wall, my first mural ever, on the road that connects the city that I live – Kalamata with the famous Sparta. There I felt in love with street art I decided to be evolved since then.
Tell us more about the motifs of your artworks. Often there are portraits, but also animals. And sometimes you combine faces with animals. Also you create images of famous people, musicians or actors like Charlie Chaplin, Aryton Senna or The Doors. How do you choose the motifs and why do you paint them?
Before I even start drawing as a kid I started writing my own lyrics, so the best way to see me is as a poet that knows also how to paint. First I have a text in my head and then I search for the image that will show that in full power.
In some of the artworks you’ve done, it’s obvious that they’re also socially critical and carry a message. For example, the woman’s head, which is also a grenade. You could just paint the „beautiful“ things, but you also try to draw attention to problems with your art. In the same way, you also try to address the problems with endangered animals or the destruction of the plant world. Tell us more about it.
I strongly believe that art is the best way to inform and educate so my messages about the planet or the political situation in Greece are a conversation opener rather a de facto statement, is more like „Hey guys, I think we need to pay attention to this matter what do you think?“ Many times in the past someone that has seen a mural with a message can add to the message or correct me and I find that very creative .
Your artworks are often emotionally charged, but in a positive way. You might also paint people who are rather expressionless or show negative emotions, but you try to emphasize positive feelings. This gives the impression that you also want to give the observers positive impulses. Am I right?
Yes , I think that positive attitude it the best fuel to take us further, I strive for optimistic creativity.
Do you also paint on surfaces other than walls? For example, on canvas or other materials such as metal, wood or plastic?
I was probably the first in Greece that painted on cellophane, the cellograff technique, which is different than a wall in terms of color behavior and also I have painted in large rocks in my village that resembles a wall surface but with a ruff and narrower surface.
Do you collaborate with other artists? So are you in a collective, a crew or a team?
I have made some artworks with friends over the years but essentially I work alone.
Many Greek cities are simply painted from top to bottom with great colorful works. In Germany there are also many works of art, but there is also a strong persecution by the police and punishment by the system. How is it in Greece and especially in Athens? How is it allowed and where are the difficulties? What are the consequences of being caught painting illegally?
I have heard from German or English friends that indeed in Germany or England the police is tough. Here it is very soft. I have been caught sometimes by the police and they have become fans, asking me to paint their homes.
Not only are you an excellent painter, you are also a fantastic photographer. Between the countless stunning murals, you also have a lot of really good photography on your channels. Tell us a bit about your love of working with a camera.
When I understood that photography is a harder way to tell a story than painting, I fell in love again. I don’t get a clear canvas, I must find a method in chaos to showcase something and that is something worth fighting for.
You said you grew up in Kalamata, so there must be a lot of artworks from you. Where else in Greece can people admire your wall paintings?
There are artworks from me from Kavala up north close to Turkey to Serres close to Bulgaria, as well in Ioannina, Thessaloniki, Karditsa, Naxos and on Siros islands.
And now about outside of Greece. Where have you been and where are artworks from you in other countries? And where have you not been yet, but would like to go and paint there?
I have been to Warsaw, Poland back in 2010 for murals and in 2015 I visited Nicosia, Cyprus to paint three murals. I really want to visit Berlin, London, Barcelona, Napoli and New York.
Art can give messages to other people, but as well it can give a lot to the person who creates. You mentioned before the word “chaos” and your nickname “Skitsofrenis”. I think you can concentrate this “chaos” and feelings with your art into a creation and I believe doing art works as a medicine for human minds. What do you think about my interpretation?
I think you are right, it is like a superpower. I know that because I also try to express my fears and anxiety through art in a creative way rather being toxic and screaming to others – the hyper sensitivity is rare, it is what really feeds a true artist in my opinion.
Did you have exhibitions in galleries yet? And do you like that kind of indoor presentation or do you want to stay on the street?
I had one exhibition here in my local town of Kalamata about 12 years ago but probably I was ahead of my time because people didn’t really respond or understood most of it. Since then I have been offered to exhibit my work in Athens and other cities but they don’t respect my terms so no exhibitions for now.
It’s very interesting that you wrote that in Greece police officers are now your fans and even want their houses painted by you. Tell us a bit more about how the population and residents in Greece accept and like urban art?
Well, in Greece in the beginning I was mocked here in my town because „playing with colors “ is for kids and not for adults. Until The Guardian newspaper, the Stern magazine from Germany and others wrote about me and in one day I became a celebrity here (laugh hard here). Generally Greeks are like small kids, first they are afraid of something new and mock it but once they get used to it or see it’s worth, then they become obsessed. Let’s not forget that this damn place had murals 3500 years ago or the Byzantine religious painting from 500 B.C. There is no middle ground here. They will hate you or love you. Like moussaka, you like it a lot or not, I don’t.
Tell us more about the spots. You said you also painted rocks and on your channel there are some works in the wild or in lost places. You do a mix and paint here and there. Where do you like it better? In the city or in the middle of nowhere? Or both?
The spots are chosen because of the location. For example an abandoned building calls me to paint something to remind to people that it is still there and it shouldn’t be abandoned. Or a rock that has eyes is there to remind you that you can be seen anywhere .
What are your plans for the future? Do you have new projects in planning or something you are currently working on?
My goals have all been satisfied, I have nothing planned. I’m on unknown ways now. The only new besides art is my cycling passion. I race with my team in local races and I’m currently training to participate in a legendary race from Athens to Sparta with a bike. The length of the route is 257 km, in honor of Fidipedes, the ancient messenger that runned this distance to ask help from Sparta against the Persians.
What would you like to tell other artists, or those who might become artists? How would you motivate other creative people to keep going?
To other artists I say this: Do not seek the how or when but the why. Always ask about the why and the how will come magically by itself.
INFOTHEK
Artist: SKITSOFRENIS
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Skitsofrenis/100044288745093
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skitsofrenis
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