On Tuesday 9th of May 2006, opens in the art space of ASTROLAVOS dexameni (Xanthippou 11, Kolonaki tel: 210 7294342, fax: 210 72 93 317, www.astrolavos.gr, opening hours: Tu- Fr 10.30- 14.00 and 18.00- 21.00, Sat 10.30- 14-30) the new individual exhibition of Faidon Patrikalakis, entitled: "Birds".

This wide thematic unit, which has been occasionally coming and going- like persistence- in the artists' work, is now approached autonomously. The different roles and expressions which birds have in his pictures are now meticulously reported. Sometimes protagonists and other times in minor roles, birds either prevail on the canvas/ paper or acquire monumental dimensions; at times almost disappear amongst the details of the painted surroundings. Often it is the birds shape/ size which dictate the size of the painted work. These works seem as if they have been inspired by notebook pages, tightly encircling the birds outline. Like minute breaths, tiny whispers, pauses, questions, longings, like the sounds of the dove or the flying of the sea gull. The artist never fails to examine a supplementary level within the painted image; digits and numbers dominate the bird’s drawings reminding us that the pictorial level of the work is also an exercise of reading and a complex mathematical system? a mental game of induction and knowledge.

Yet, how did this painting necessity for presenting birds emerge?
" Birds, have never abandoned me. They are my lifetime companions, my pleasure and my tyranny. For me, they are great actors, unbelievable clowns, remarkable existences which constantly strike poses, not in real life but in my fantasy. They come and go inside my brain and ask from me to paint them even if I am in no mood, yet I never let them down, neither do they. My birds carry within them the subjects which I paint and are always present in anything and everything I paint.
Birds possess an ancient- mystical wisdom, always returning there from where they started; singing the adventures of their journeys- mainly their sorrows -in the most optimistic way. I share the same philosophy, as a painter and in my way of life."
The exhibition includes oil canvases, crayons on paper and small sculptures/artifacts made by the artist.

Duration of exhibition: 9th – 31st of May 2006