Sculptor Nikos Floros Exhibits at the “Tsaritsyno” in Moscow

Olga Dokuchaeva, Deputy General Director of the Tsaritsyno State Museum and Reserve, Alexandr Bezrukov, General Director of the Tsaritsyno State Museum and Reserve, Ioannis Hitos General Director of FIX Hellenic Brewery, the artist Nikos Floros, Mrs. Angela Hitou, Angela Dikeoulia, Curator of the exhibit, and Julia Sysalova, organizer of the exhibit. PHOTO: ILIAS DIAMANTAKOS

From September 5th 2013 through March 2, 2014, art lovers in Moscow will have the opportunity to travel to the surrealist world of the artist Nikos Floros and be as captivated by his incredibly original creations as have so many other art lovers around the world. The Tsaritsyno State Museum and Reserve in Moscow is hosting a major retrospective exhibition of this internationally recognized sculptor of Hellenic descent. Exhibited in the Hall of the Tsaryna are these unique sculptural costumes created from recycled aluminum. This original method was created and patented by Nikos Floros in 2003. “I wanted to do something with consumable products, because I believe our modern temples today are supermarkets and malls, where you feel you exist, in other words, ‘I consume therefore I exist’,” he said.

The opening reception at the Museum, earlier in September, was attended by representatives of the cultural, diplomatic, scientific and business worlds of Muscovite society including the Consul General of Greece Ioannis Plotas, the General Director of the Tsaritsyno Museum and Reserve Olga Dokuchaeva, the Director of the Hellenic Cultural Center of Moscow Theodora Giannitsi and the General Director of Fix Hellenic Breweries Ioannis Hitos along with many others who were enthralled by Nikos Floros, exquisite sculptures. Curators of the exhibition are Angela Dikeoulia and Aristotelis Karantis.

The Gold Sponsor of this event is the Hellenic Brewery FIX Hellas which is celebrating its 150th year anniversary. Nikos has created a sculpture specifically commemorating this anniversary. The sculptural costume “Violetta” inspired by the opera diva Maria Callas was presented for the first time at the opening reception.

Olga Dokuchaeva, Nikos Floros, and Alexandr Bezrukov in front of the “Violetta”, presented for the first time in this exhibit. PHOTO: ILIAS DIAMANTAKOS

This exhibition entitled “Tribute to Maria Callas and Grace Kelly” includes the sculptural costumes inspired by these exceptional women. Created from recycled aluminum cans, these surrealist pop-art creations have been exhibited around the world including Monte Carlo, Monaco under the auspices of Prince Albert of Monaco, National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington, DC, Hofburg Palace in Vienna, Austria, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Metropolitan Club in New York City, among many others. Floros’ sculptural costumes are in museums and private collections around the world. After completion of the exhibition in Moscow, the collection will travel to the Museum of the Academy of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg where it will be on display for one month beginning March 6, 2014.

Nikos Floros utilizes materials from our everyday lives which he transforms into magnificent original works of art. A major inspiration for him has been the lives of extraordinary women such as Queen Elizabeth I, Katherine the Great, Maria Callas and Grace Kelly. These women themselves have been transformative figures who have inspired many others. Floros has been inspired by them and created moving tributes to their art, their lives, their spirits and their legacies.