Flesh

Ioannis Karagiannopoulos, Flesh, 2024, sculpture, burnt windshield, 80 x 15 cm

Ioannis Karagiannopoulos’ work “Flesh” is a sculpture made of gelatin that has undergone thermal processing, resulting in a fluid, abstract form. The melted material forms folds and creases in brown hues that alternate with translucent areas, evoking traces of burning. Its glossy, yet rough surface recalls both the power of fire and the fragility of matter. The sculpture resembles a piece of burnt flesh or fossilised wood, suggesting the delicate balance between life and decay. Through the transformation of plastic, the work refers to the alteration of the natural environment and the use of artificial materials.

The smell of burnt plastic serves as a sensory memory of destruction, raising ethical questions about the environmental crisis. Its elongated form, with the sharp edges and fine protrusions, radiates a dynamic energy that contrasts with the material’s fragility under heat, while at the same time conveying a sense of resilience. The work evokes emotions associated with decay, regeneration, sensitivity and distortion. As we wander through the landscape of the work, decay becomes memory, and matter becomes a testimony to the coexistence of humanity  and nature.

Exhibition section: Transformations
Walking through all kinds of landscapes, materials in decay and decomposition change form and role. They narrate stories of the place and of the bodies that have crossed it…

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