- Details
- Category: Questioning Gaze
By Metropolitan of Pergamon John (Zizioulas)
Finally, the main characteristic of Fr. Stamatis’ paintings is the gaze. Although his work encompasses many forms of painting – frescos, icons, pictures, book illustrations, etc. – and although it employs various techniques and styles, there is something common to all of it that unites everything and that gives everything a stable identity. This characteristic is the gaze from the image. Inall the painted images by Fr. Stamatis, the gaze is “questioning.” As in the Psalms God “searches the hearts andreins” (Ps. 7:9), so also the gaze of these paintings questions and inquires about the existential depth of the picture’s observer.
Finally, the main characteristic of Fr. Stamatis’ paintings is the gaze. Although his work encompasses many forms of painting – frescos, icons, pictures, book illustrations, etc. – and although it employs various techniques and styles, there is something common to all of it that unites everything and that gives everything a stable identity. This characteristic is the gaze from the image. Inall the painted images by Fr. Stamatis, the gaze is “questioning.” As in the Psalms God “searches the hearts andreins” (Ps. 7:9), so also the gaze of these paintings questions and inquires about the existential depth of the picture’s observer.
- Details
- Category: Questioning Gaze
Socrates, "I know that I know nothing", acrylic on canvas, 2021
It should be noted that this (ἓν οἶδα ὅτι οὐδὲν οἶδα) is not recorded anywhere as a saying that Greek philosopher Socrates said, but only oral tradition exists, derived from Plato's account. But allow me a "poetic permission" to have painted it as an emblematic saying that summarizes the (as much as they could have it) HUMILITY OF THE ANCIENT PHILOSOPHICAL SPIRIT. And I also send a message to us "supposedly" theologians, to never believe that... we know God.
It should be noted that this (ἓν οἶδα ὅτι οὐδὲν οἶδα) is not recorded anywhere as a saying that Greek philosopher Socrates said, but only oral tradition exists, derived from Plato's account. But allow me a "poetic permission" to have painted it as an emblematic saying that summarizes the (as much as they could have it) HUMILITY OF THE ANCIENT PHILOSOPHICAL SPIRIT. And I also send a message to us "supposedly" theologians, to never believe that... we know God.