"Dromeas" (Runner) by Costas Varotsos - Analysis
This sculpture was created by Greek artist Costas Varotsos (1955- ). Born in Athens, Varotsos lives and works in Greece. He has studied at Accademia di Belle Arti in Rome and Universita di Pescara, Architetura. From 1990-1991, he studied in New York in an experimental glass workshop, as he had received a Fulbright Grant.
I initially found this piece of art on Costas Varotsos’s website, http://www.euran.com/costasvarotsos.htm, and verified its existence with other sources such as Greek travel organizations.
I picked this sculpture because it is visually disconcerting. The unusual materials used to construct it create a very atypical visual text. It also appealed to me because of its size, which is about thirty feet tall. It would be amazing to see it in person. Dromeas fits with my theme because it depicts a runner without creating specific details, leaving their emotions to be interpreted.
This impressionist sculpture was created from glass and iron. Thousands of broken pieces and shards of glass were stacked together to create Dromeas. By using these materials, this sculpture seems to connote speed and efficiency. This makes the piece effective.
Visual techniques used by Varotsos also contribute to this sculpture’s effectiveness. By using small pieces of glass to create a large entity, metaphorically one could assume that the same can be done with any pursuit. For instance, gathering bits of knowledge from a variety of sources compiles an array of information. Another possible interpretation is that life is made of up little moments.
Another device used that should be noted is the size of Dromeas. At twelve metres tall, this made it easier for Varotsos to create the illusion of speed, with slabs of glass trailing behind the giant. Lastly, the material used is noteworthy. Glass composes nearly the entire sculpture. It is easy to imagine that on a sunny day, the light illuminates this visual text, making it seem ethereal and pure. Overall, Dromeas is an impressive piece.
I initially found this piece of art on Costas Varotsos’s website, http://www.euran.com/costasvarotsos.htm, and verified its existence with other sources such as Greek travel organizations.
I picked this sculpture because it is visually disconcerting. The unusual materials used to construct it create a very atypical visual text. It also appealed to me because of its size, which is about thirty feet tall. It would be amazing to see it in person. Dromeas fits with my theme because it depicts a runner without creating specific details, leaving their emotions to be interpreted.
This impressionist sculpture was created from glass and iron. Thousands of broken pieces and shards of glass were stacked together to create Dromeas. By using these materials, this sculpture seems to connote speed and efficiency. This makes the piece effective.
Visual techniques used by Varotsos also contribute to this sculpture’s effectiveness. By using small pieces of glass to create a large entity, metaphorically one could assume that the same can be done with any pursuit. For instance, gathering bits of knowledge from a variety of sources compiles an array of information. Another possible interpretation is that life is made of up little moments.
Another device used that should be noted is the size of Dromeas. At twelve metres tall, this made it easier for Varotsos to create the illusion of speed, with slabs of glass trailing behind the giant. Lastly, the material used is noteworthy. Glass composes nearly the entire sculpture. It is easy to imagine that on a sunny day, the light illuminates this visual text, making it seem ethereal and pure. Overall, Dromeas is an impressive piece.