On the steps of Erotokritos

The Rethymno Centre for Contemporary Art (today's Contemporary Art Museum of Crete) inaugurated the exhibition entitled “On the steps of Erotokritos” which showcases artworks by Faidon Patrikalakis on Wednesday, 20 February 2002, at “8 Art Space” (8 Himaras Str.).

The exhibition’s starting point was the figure of Erotokritos, the handsome young man of the Cretan theatre, and further presented the artist’s involvement in theatre and painting through the concepts of both the imaginary and the real.

In particular, Maria Marangou, Artistic Director of the Museum, states in her text:
The steps of Erotokritos features the rhythm of colours, are ephemeral as to the time they occupy each time in their space, and everlasting as to the memory they carry.

Erotokritos and his partner, Areti, are wearing a coloured paper costume. In the romantic poem dated back to the 15thcentury "Paris and Vienne" (Paris et Vienne) written by Pierre de la Cypede, Areti was Erotokritos’ partner during his journeys. Then, she is founded in the Aegean Sea region, in Athens, at the house of King Hercules, in Euboea with Polydoros, in Sitia where the Venetian Vincenzo Cornaro had lived, in all regions of Crete where-based on evidence-sincethe17thcentury the theatre had already spread all over Crete since theatrical troupes were touring all around the island.

Faidon Patrikalakis’ exhibition is a wandering in the forms and colours, an “excursion” to the islands, the landscapes of the interiors and fabrics, the gilded clay figurines which were used during the Egyptian rituals, the theatre mirrors and miniatures, the spontaneity of the everlasting childhood, a journey through the myth and poetry where his hero has also been placed.

Erotokritos, a poem written by Cornaro, a renowned poet of the Cretan society, features all the elements of wandering, not only as to the actions of his main characters but also as to his origin. Αs the Romanian philologist Kartoyan informs us, the poet read, borrowed and creatively renewed an Italian translation of the aforementioned poem to support dream and poetry, that is, art, since "Art comprises dream, life, poetry and action", in the exquisite verse of Kostis Palamas.

As moving through time, the steps of Erotokritos make a circle, like a pentozali dance, where the game is dominated by the sense of colour, rhythm, composition, interpretation and shadow.

Are we talking about theatre? No, it is not only about it. Faidon Patrikalakis’ “On the steps of Erotokritos” is not limited to theatrical action, but extends through space, swings into action, without being merely its decorative elements. We have to do with autonomous actions, each one coming from and targeting to another.

The Rethymno Centre for Contemporary Art gave Faidon Patrikalakis’ exhibition a warm welcome. Our first thought was to present the work done by this inventive artist endowed with such charming writing in the theatre. However, we also presented some more of his painting works of two or three dimensions, knowing that this falls under the exact same research. They are flat forms which have been structured for the sake of an imaginary, surreal world that has almost all the elements of intense and lively physicality. It is the clay that forms a space full of imagination and colourful costumes.

Although a different approach as to the changes of features may be required according to the purpose each artwork serves, all these transitions have the same starting point which is the form and writing, since they are structured to create a connecting process that supports space.

In the years of globalization, Faidon Patrikalakis, a lover of art moods throughout its history, but an overnice one, steadily chooses to engage in the values the Aegean Sea has bequeathed to him. World’s folk tradition, adorned with all symbols that Matisse was so well familiarized with, forever meets the symbolical priest figures and the beloved colour blue. Patrikalakis creates a form, magnifying and overdramatizing it, while enriching its background, being so well painted with laurels and clouds, colours and living forms, so as not to leave any frame on his paintings, to be transformed into an integrated artwork that calls to mind the space, a theatrical action with no central points, but characterized by many actions where performers and spectators may move in the same scenic dream “blessed by the rhythm”.

The steps of Erotokritos is a work that consists of so many different meanings that goes far beyond commitments, unites the space with the infinity, stands up for the myth, ensures harmony and makes us spread our wings so as not to remain passive when the body language, sound and colour exceeds the definition which restricts it to only one way of expression.

The exhibition lasted until 31 March 2002. During this period of time, guided tours for schools and adult groups took place.