Socrates Petrakis 
painter

Skammata / Excavations
Psifida Gallery
February 1 -28, 2025

​Socrates Petrakis was born in Patras, Greece, and studied painting and fine arts in Italy. In his work he draws inspiration from classical Greek sculpture, yet he merges this historical influence with a contemporary approach that intertwines both expressionistic and naturalistic elements.

Petrakis reimagines the human form, portraying his subjects as ghostly, fragmented figures suspended between worlds. These beings seem lost or confused, embodying the struggles of modern existence in a world devoid of poetry and idealism. Through his use of fragmented lines, Petrakis symbolically breaks his figures into thousands of pieces, reflecting the disintegration of their heroic essence in the face of reality.

His art creates a dialogue between the past and present, with each figure evoking the grandeur of ancient statuary while confronting the challenges of the human condition today. The tension between their fragmented nature and their inherent heroism invites viewers to contemplate the fragile state of identity, legacy, and survival in an ever-shifting, unpoetic world.