Greek artist’s Istanbul paintings at Sismanoglio Megaro

ISTANBUL

The historic Sismanoglio Megaro of the General Consulate of Greece in Istanbul is currently hosting a painting exhibition by Konstantinos Kerestetzis, curated by Christos Gavras.

Kerestetzis’ work tries to honor the majestic city of Istanbul, which has been his source of inspiration since 2006, depicting portraits of its places and inhabitants and moments of their daily life.

In contrast with the traveling painters of past and present who pass through Istanbul and depict its monuments, minarets or coast, Kerestetzis submerged himself in the life of the community and depicts it in his paintings. This endows his artworks with a particular sensitivity and sincerity. With his brushstroke he seeks the veracity of the image, by touching the deeper beauty of the houses, the children’s insouciance, the traces of the people in the streets (shops, cars, clothes hung from the buildings).

Born in 1969, Kerestetzis took his first painting classes with Kostas Meimaroglou and later on with Kostas Papatriantafyllopoulos.

Between 1989 and 1994 he studied painting at the Athens School of Fine Arts, working at the art studio of Chronis Mpotsoglou and engraving with Thanasis Exarchopoulos. From 1993 to 1998, he pursued liberal studies of the Spanish school of thought at the Prado Museum.

Kerestetzis lives and works in Athens and Istanbul. His artworks form part of many private collections and museums in Greece, Spain, England, Turkey and the United States.

The exhibition at Sismanoglio Megaro is currently open and will continue through March 29.