melletios kyriakidis

CONTEMPORARY ARTIST – SYDNEY AUSTRALIA – MELLETIOS ALEXANDRIOS KYRIAKIDIS: Mell’s work is grounded in a deep concern of the perception of humanity. It draws from philosophical ideas based on theorist and great thinkers from the likes of Jean Baudrillard and Michael Foucault that includes the analysis of the abnormal and the hyper-real association within the altered views of the world.

Working with photography, digital media and Installation, Melletios is one of the founders of Sydney's Space3 artist run initiative. He studied (Masters in Digital Media) at COFA, Paddington, NSW. (2000)

His installations transform spaces and evoke sensory Illusions through the use of digital mediums; including sound, photography and video. Melletios has exhibited in over 25 exhibitions since 1995, and has worked as a curator in numerous exhibitions. Including international shows - London (UK), Beijing (China), Toronto (Canada), Rome (Italy) and Australia (resident).

Melletios Kyiriakidis has earned a reputation for his detailed symbolism on the construction of irony and the realistic recreation of popular commodities. Commenting on a structuralist point of view, his works are part photo realistic, part performance, focusing on the art making as the foundation of the aesthetic and rejecting the decorative. He places the symbol on a pedestal to become the 'concept', or art commodity, he works in many mediums believing that we should not be limited to a single craft and the notion of labelling the visual medium destroys the subject. This encompasses the post-modern and cultural framework of the object as the stimulus. In addition Melletios latest work crucifix, takes a satirical stab at the religious icon appropriating the Christ pose. Mell virtually takes apart the body and recontextualise it in the symbol of the crucifix, the body was taken in different posse and then broken up and collaged together to become a 2d sculpture. He showed this work in April 2007 in a gallery in Trastevere Rome (B5 galleria), in the old stable quarters of the Vatican. The images are iconic symbols of resurrection, ironically the use of the "nude & the gaze" caused some to want to censor the works for display.

Melletios has worked as an art teacher since 1998 and the last five years at Newtown High School of the Performing Arts. He has taught HSC art (in which many of his students have been selected into art express) he also help implement the film and digital component in the schools curriculum. He also was the co-founder of space3 gallery in Sydney and continues to curate shows in the inner city sector of artist run galleries. Melletios latest work appears in the Albion street lane way part of the city of Sydney 'Art and About' project (Nov – Feb. 2008).

below is an exert of an interview given in 2005.

Interview in the "program" - http://www.theprogram.net.au/creativeIndustrySub.asp?id=1115