Two of his main themes are pain and lust. Two of his main specializations: painting and illustration.

‘I can’t remember myself not drawing or painting-even on a tissue. Art keeps me alive. It’s my way of ‘fighting death. The messages that I’m trying to get across with my art are need of communication, importance of travelling and new experiences, remembrance, pain and loneliness.’

George Maraziotis was born in Athens in 1984. He has studied sketching, painting, architectural design, comics and illustration in Greece and the UK and is the creator of ‘plakton’ design team (along with V.Vassilatos).

Although young, the artist has travelled around many world capitals and as he explains: ‘travelling around capitals gives me great experiences, acts as a great source of inspiration and helps me develop my personal values.’ However appreciating the beauty in travelling he confessed that there is no single day that he doesn’t think about the place that he will end up settling. One thing that he distinguishes about his home country is ‘the historic elements of Athens. I adore its natural and unique light that has always helped me with the painting process.’

George Maraziotis is the man behind ‘COMIX Competition’, which started in Patra, Greece but has also gained international character. We asked him to tell us a few words about the Comix Exhibition that were organized in 2006 and 2007, respectively. ‘In 2006, I returned to Greece after having graduated from Wolverhampton University. Patras, my home city, was at the time the cultural capital of Europe and I was asked to undertake the organization, design and promotion of a Hellenic Comics Competition, which would end with the exhibition of the artworks. The first year was a success as artists from all over Greece submitted their work, and in 2007 we re-organized the competition and it gained an international character as people from all over the world took part. Unfortunately, that was also the final year of the competition due to the cut of benefits from the Municipality of Patras and the fact that I was leaving for Paris to concentrate on illustration and painting.’

The artist has designed storyboards for four short films in Greek and in Spanish and various illustrations of his have been published in European magazines, newspapers and websites. He is only 27 but has already exhibited his work in Greece, UK, France, Czech republic and the U.S. We asked him where he draws inspiration from and what artists have influenced his art. He answered: ‘one of the artists that I’ve been studying for the last 2 years is Jannis Kounellis. His installations and use of media like coals, iron bars, fire and big bells have had a great impact on my artwork. The way he treats collective remembrance through his work is truly passionate and real. Artists like Modigliani, Klimt, Yannis Tsarouchis, Dave McKean and directors David Lynch and Romeo Castellucci also influence me. I draw inspiration from almost anything that surrounds me: from the deep sea to the lights in the streets and from an empty old factory to the architecture of a neo-classical house.’

One of the most influential exhibitions that he has seen recently is ‘the retrospective exhibition of Gerard Richter (Panorama) in Tate Gallery. While walking around these monumental painting, I started getting ideas about the project that I am currently working on. Thematically the exhibition is totally irrelevant to by project but Richter’s work created an environment where my ideas started floating.’

As every other successful artist, George Maraziots has received many compliments about his art. The greatest one that he distinguishes was ‘when someone visited my solo exhibition, walked around and in the end thanked me for giving him the chance to see something as unique. What is most important is that after a week that we met again he told me he’s been thinking about the exhibition for the whole week.’ 

5 things you didn’t know about George Maraziotis:

Biggest fear: growing up and not being creative
Hates: thinking about death
Greatest passions: vastness of the deep blue see
Biggest dream: continue getting fulfilled by doing art
Favorite destination: New York

Photos © * ALLREDY studios

               * The Last Supper| 1,20×3,00m| Mixed media, Athens 2011