In the quiet expanse of the Athens Municipal Gallery, painter Giannis Fokas presents “Works 1985-2024,” an exhibit offering a journey through nearly four decades of his evolving, powerful abstractions. The exhibition, curated by art historian Christoforos Marinos, showcases Fokas’ layered technique, rich with thin layers of color that create a striking transparency and vibrancy. One standout piece, “Emerald Blue” (2016), immerses viewers in a serene yet unsettling seascape, punctuated by two dark rectangles – a deliberate disruption, hinting at themes of migration and ecological upheaval. Marinos selected around 30 works, illuminating Fokas’ tension between abstraction and representation. Early pieces are a nod to the walls of Paris, where Fokas captured urban life’s textures. His later works shift, showing a quieter, earth-toned palette before returning to his bold chromatic roots. A final monochrome piece, “Talking Silence,” suggests the enduring power of the unspoken, as a large, expressionless mouth silently dominates a stark white background. [Dimitris Sarelas/InTime News]