DIMITRI LIKISSAS: POINTILLISM REVISITED
Artist, Dimitri Likissas was born and raised in Belgium and has Greek roots. Around his early 20s, he moved to the Caribbean where his career evolved from being a graphic designer to a corporate director of a media publishing company. From that point forward he turned into a full-time artist and painter, and his creations have discovered their way into numerous private collections mostly in Europe and America.
His work stems from a long tradition of using distinct dots of color in art, which the viewer’s mind blends together to create the final image. Playing with chromatic tonality and the dissection of visual planes, Dimitri creates works that seem to move and undulate within the canvas as if attempting to escape their two-dimensional confines. While the dots work together in harmony to create the image, their circular nature acts in opposition to his square or rectangular canvases, reminding us of the basic elements of life and how atoms are in a constant movement – propelling against each other – creating matter itself.
Having studied the works of the original Pointillist masters, such as Georges Seurat and Henri-Edmond Cross, as well as pop artists like Roy Lichtenstein and Keith Haring, Likissas gives us a fresh interpretation on the usage of dots in painting.
While having been painting and experimenting with dots and colour for over 20 years, his body of work has maintained the same technical and stylistic approach over all these years while the content has developed as he has moved through different countries and life events.
We spend 5 minutes with him to discuss his exhibition entitled, ‘Pointillism Revisited’ which is now showing at the prestigious Guy Hepner gallery in New York.
Tell us about the exhibition, ‘Pointillism Revisited’…
This exhibition is about experiencing a new style of pointillism. I say a new style because it also is Optical art, the paintings are large and from nearby you are encountered by the dot pattern of all different colors, and as you take a distance from the work, the dots transcend into an image.
Describe your aesthetic…
My aesthetic is a grid of perfectly lined and perfectly executed dots, each of a different color and through the color combinations melt together as an image.
What is pop art to you and who is your favourite artist?
Pop art to me is bringing a popular image/subject to the forefront, bringing attention to it.
Where do you look to for inspiration?
Everywhere around me is inspiration. I take a lot of photos as I travel for ideas in my art.
Which is your favourite era for art?
I have to say the Eighties for me were the golden years, the Warhol, Basquiat, Haring era!
How has it been working with Guy Hepner Gallery and the Tax Collection?
It has been an excellent experience. Both teams are on a roll with what they are doing and young, swift and taking care of their artists.
What else do you have coming up?
Next for me is to keep on hustling to become a household name in art. I do have a unique and appealing style.
The exhibition has been extended until the end of July and the New York Gallery. Find out more about the exhibition here.
