Vyzantios Konstantinos (Dikos)

He took his first painting lessons from his father, Periklis Vyzantios. He then studied at the School of Fine Arts (1938-1942) and in 1946 on a scholarship from the French government he completed his studies in Paris, at the Julian and Grande Chaumiere Academies. Residing permanently since then in the French capital he established relationships with Alberto Giacommeti, Christian Zervos, Eugene Ionesco and Dimitris Galanis, from whom he learned the art of engraving.

In 1951 he presented his first solo exhibition at the Ariel gallery. This was followed by solo shows both in France and other European countries as well as Athens, several of which had a preface by Eugene Ionesco, Michel Foucault and other eminent figures of arts and letters. He has also participated in numerous group shows in France and other European countries.

Starting out with a figurative rendering focused on the human figure but also landscape, he quickly abandoned the doctrines of his teachers, adopting a personal style. He later turned for a period to abstract art but then returned to figurative depictions. Introducing still life into his subject matter, he has created compositions with a strange perspective which is suggestive of an enigmatic atmosphere and a “speculative” space in which are embodied figures with characteristics of mannerism and peculiar positions and attitudes.