Exposition: 'Born In Stone' by Algis Kemezys

Frequent readers know that I like art, and that I like art inspired by the ancient Hellenic Gods. Today, I'd like to draw your attention to an exhibition in Quebec, Canada, of photographic work by Algis Kemezys which ticks both aforementioned boxes.

Artemis & Apollon by Algis Kemezys

The exhibition is called 'Born in Stone' and consists of composite photographs of marble and ancient Hellenic sculpture. It premiered in Montreal’s Ici par les Arts in Saint Jérôme, Quebec, on June 5, 2014.

Photographed all over the Hellenistic world, in modern day Turkey and Greece, and also in the Louvre and the British Museum, the sculptures depicted in these works are some of the most iconic and magnificent examples of ancient Hellenic sculpting, the kind that has been imitated, but never quite equalled, for the last two and a half millennia.

The marble which forms the backgrounds of the photographs is also from antiquity. Kemezys chose to use the marble stones of the Athenian acropolis and the famed quarries of Paros Island, from where both Phideas and Praxiteles chose the pure white, translucent marble for their greatest work; the Venus de Milo, and Winged Victory, respectively. According to Kemezys:

“The fusion of the perfect, life-like sculptures to the storied marbles from which they sprung makes for images that linger in the pleasure centers of the mind as they propel the imagination into mythology.”

Presented in large format, full-colour renditions, they tell the tales of a lost civilization whose artistry has informed the very roots of western culture. The exhibition runs until the end of July, and in the Spring of 2015, the exhibition will move to the National Archaeology Museum in Athens, Greece, which stated that:

"[Kemezys'] artwork approach[es] ancient Greek art in a unique and innovative artistic language, offering insightful perspective. We are sure that the exhibition will be warmly welcomed by our visitors and the press."

For those of you-like poor little me who lives nowhere near either Quebec or Athens--not able to attend either exposition, but intrigued by the samples above, Kemezys' work can also be viewed on his homepage. Enjoy!