Greek artist Alexandros Douras creates artworks that invite the viewer to reconsider how they think about light and space. Primarily working with glazed ceramic and neon light, Douras creates objects that examine the relationship between sculpture, texture, and the notion of illumination. The ceramic works are glazed and emit a unique iridescence that is becoming a signature component of his artistic practice. The elegant curves of the neon lights conjoined with the non-uniform edges of the ceramic create a dynamic visual tension within the work. Douras adroitly creates objects that cultivate an environment where the past and future coexist. Utilising clay as a medium that has been employed by artisans for millennia and coupling it with neon light (a technological product that is often associated with creative advancement), Douras has developed a visual vocabulary that is dynamic and honours the legacy of artists before him.

Inspired by organic and artificial forms, the sculptures that Douras creates often convey elements of biomorphic yet transcendental architecture. He seems captivated by religion and faith as a source material within his practice to further interrogate ideas around light, space, and the sublime. Douras also references saints, churches, death, and Christian tradition within his work, bringing into question utopian and dystopian concepts that challenge spiritual beliefs. With minimal forms, Douras creates work that endeavours to unpack the deep Christian history of Athens and ultimately depicts figures through abstract sculpture and light. The narratives are chilling, emotional, and full of intensity, thus challenging the viewer to reflect on Douras’s work through an intimate and sacred approach.

Like a Prayer, 2021
Installation, glazed ceramics, neon lights, chains
Dimensions variable
37 x 50 x 28 cm
40 x 37 x 27 cm
39 x 62 x 26 cm
40 x 55 x 28 cm
38 x 37 x 28 cm
37 x 39 x 28 cm
47 x 40 x 27 cm
47 x 47 x 28 cm
38 x 28 x 28 cm
38 x 28 x 28 cm
38 x 45 x 28 cm
50 x 41 x 33 cm
50 x 40 x 30 cm
49 x 39 x 30 cm
50 x 40 x 31 cm
Courtesy of Allouche Benias Gallery