Mit Gelas Kessidis stellt das Muenchner Kuenstlerhaus einen Kuenstler vor, der in Tiflis, der Hauptstadt Georgiens, geboren wurde und heute in Griechenland lebt. Er hat sich in vielen Laendern durch Ausstellungen einen Namen gemacht. Seine kuenstlerische Leistung wurde durch zahlreiche Preise gewuerdigt. Eine starke Persoenlichkeit druckt sich im Stil seiner Arbeiten aus, der sich in keiner modischen Richtung festlegen lasst. Scheinen einige archaisch wirkende Werke der Mythologie entlehnt zu sein, strahlen andere eine selbstgestaltete Zeitlosigkeit aus, die Kessidis als ausserordentlich kreativen Kuenstler ausweist. Wir freuen uns, dass in der Folge unserer Ausstellungen der Reihe „Skulpturen im Innenhof" diese ausdrucksstarken Exponate einem stets interessierten Publikum praesentiert werden konnen. Peter Grassinger Praesident Muenchner Kuenstlerhaus _____________________________________________________________ Sculptor Gelas: His identity and works I will write about the sculptor Mr. Gelas's works and personality from my experience planning over 300 sculpture exhibitions of over the past about 20 years. When I looked, his work for the first time, I intensely felt the traditionally strength of European sculpture. And I was impressed with his attitude that he is grappling squarely with sculpting the human body. This might be his destiny as an artist who was born in Greece with its eternal, history. In other words, it is his sincere attitude to continue challenging to model beauty that can. say it has completely .been pursued traditionally in a field of modeling which is compared with others strictly. The works of Gelas have rich sense of space constructed on a widening centrifugal space, while at the same time having a soul that doesn't disturb the space. The exquisite harmony of the centrifugal and the centripetal attract people's minds and bodies. When admirers feel joint ownership of the space that is constructed by Gelas’ works that are full of human, love, peace comes to their hearts. That comes from the traditional part that flows through Gela's veins together with an indescribable sense of mystery. If we express the sense of mystery in other words we could say it is a fusion of the western, sense of space with the oriental sense of space. When we look at Gelas’ impressionistic statue of a nude woman in black marble with its warm undulations folding in on themselves, we get the feeling of an oriental landscape hanging scroll with its perspective showing further away things arranged higher up in the composition. Although such a way of speaking as a critic is not an expression I like, I have to use such an expression if I dare to express in words the mystery of Gelas' works. Indeed, where does that mystery come from? When I talk about Gelas who is Greek, I cannot help mentioning my experience in the Republic of Georgia. I traveled (here in 1996. In Lspite of the unstable condition about domestic administration and the relationship with Russia, I visited there because of my interest in the International Sculpture Symposium being held there. At the core of the philosophy born there is the firm belief in the existence of human love. In the midst of repeated violent social upheaval, being able to live without losing one' sense of direction can only come if there is human love providing a backdrop for one's daily activities. I heard that Georgian blood is flowing in Gelas' veins. It is too simplistic to think that the mystery in his works conies from this mystery of this blood which has passed through the point of contact of east and west. However, the mystery that I felt, while traveling in Georgia and the mystery that oozes from his works overlap in my mind. Also, a song of human praise which one hears from his works continue be sung quietly but powerfully telling of joy and sorrow, that comes from the sorrow and tenderness seen through the eyes of the sculptor Gelas. While drifting between Europe and Japan, between east and west, what does the sculptor gazing at, wishing for and what to express? Mr. Gelas is one of the artists whose works and lifestyle I want to continue to follow. Shuichi Takagaki Art producer Atagoyama Gallery, Tokyo _____________________________________________________________ Gelas Kessidis' work is simultaneously traditional and modern. Using the cultural experience of the past as background, he manages to create works of a new style distinguishable for the artist's strong personal manner and high professional level. Kessidis brings in the field of sculpture his own orientation of plastic intentions of subjects and he is mostly based in the rich and colorful traditions of ancient art. The sculptor definitely disposes an artistic sense that gives him the opportunity to find for every subject the right artistic form to express his intentions simply and comprehensively. Kessidis' sculptures have evident and logical composition, natural and convinced movement. Each one of his works spread itself freely in the space, presenting a new form at any optical angle that adds polymorphy and enrichment in the general impression. The sculptor uses on purpose a kind of non complete composition, develops with dexterity the sculpture figure, presents the plastic possibility of human body and by using different artistic manners creates artistic and decorative image. In his work appear especially the traces of the job he is doing on the actual sculpture. The surface of his works varies as to show the procedure of shaping the model. In this way he causes alteration of light and shadow and creates strong effect. Gelas Kessidis presents cultural heritage of the past from a new point of view. Tradition is applied artistically and personally and pushes artist's works to a renewal and development in an emotional and sensuous character. It is clearly distinguished, that the sculptor chose his own way in the art from the beginning of his creative activity. Baia Tsikoridze Art Critic, Tbilisi _____________________________________________________________