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Alex Kritselis is tired, even two months after his solo exhibition in Athens, where he did much of the moving, publicity and working with the gallery himself.”This is the kind of tired I don’t really mind, and I think it’s the kind of tired most people would want to have,” Kritselis said. “I’m doing something I enjoy. For every artist, the overdrive to do what needs to be done is rewarding, even though it might make you tired.”

The Dean of the Visual Arts and Media Studies Division held his first exhibition in 10 years in Kolonaki, a central part of Athens with many commercial, cultural businesses, institutions and private galleries.

Kritselis, who was born in Greece and did not permanently leave until he was 25, grew up only about 5 miles away from Kolonaki. He still has family and maintained professional relationships there.

“It was pretty important to take my work to Athens,” Kritselis said. “The people who came by were my friends, family, colleagues and people in the community who cared. So from that perspective, it was wonderful how many people came to the show. It may actually bring more shows.”

Although one of the many positive outcomes from the exhibition was the commissions he received, the successes are not the reason why one does the show, he said.

“I enjoyed the way people examined the work with thought, and came back on several occasions to look at the work,” said Kritselis.

The exhibition held in Kaplanon 5 Art Gallery included about 15 paintings made up of panels that ranged from 3 to 48 each. Kritselis said they were from memory, recollection and images from his subconscious that held significance for him. According to Kritselis, the economic problems and their aftermath in Greece had crept up on him and into his daily activities.

“The ideas were on my mind. Before I knew it, they had gotten in my work,” he said.

Much of his work is what he describes as “repurposing” the material. He sometimes juxtaposes his original work with something he happens to come across that is much older.

“Artists find new meaning in work someone else has discarded-what they think is garbage,” he said. “They find the work’s capacity to have another life, but in another context. There’s a difference between repurposing and recycling. Repurposing means you give it a new purpose.”

Much of Kritselis’ cultural roots remain in Greece and he believes the art in Europe is wonderful. However, he has found that the lack of American history in comparison to the established art in Europe has allowed for a new way of thinking of art, which is why he permanently moved to the United States and is enjoying what he does.

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