HRH Prince Nikolaos: NOSTOS: New York, 225 W 17th Street

Ethan Cohen Gallery is pleased to present NOSTOS, HRH Prince Nikolaos’s first solo exhibition in New York, curated by Marilena Koutsoukou.

 

NOSTOS showcases a fusion of ethereal photography and luminous marble. The artist embeds abstract and elemental images onto marble, beckoning observers to dwell in the ephemeral realm between the tangible and the visionary. With the artist's unique method of printing photography directly onto marble, the viewer is immersed in the Greek essence of sculpture, sand, sea, and light, encapsulated in a timeless cascade.

 

‘Nostos’ which refers to the theme of homecoming or return in Greek literature and mythology, is a concept that is deeply ingrained in Greek culture and collective consciousness. From the epic poems of Homer, particularly ‘The Odyssey’, the exploration of themes of longing, belonging, and the search for identity, holds significant importance in the work of Prince Nikolaos. He draws inspiration from the idea of returning to one's roots and reclaiming a sense of home.

 

‘Nostos’ represents a journey of self-discovery and remembrance, both on a personal and collective level. It serves as a metaphor for exploring memories, history, and tradition, reflecting on the past while looking towards the future.

Prince Nikolaos frequently depicts the Greek landscape and its natural beauty, exploring the connection between himself and his environment. ‘Nostos’ becomes a way to reconnect with the land, the sea, and the sky, evoking a sense of place and belonging. For many Greeks, especially those in the diaspora, ‘nostos’ takes on added significance as they navigate questions of identity, belonging, and displacement. Prince Nikolaos often addresses these themes of migration, diaspora, and the longing for home in his work, by selecting as his themes, images of the Greek sky, sea and light, but also the Greek earth itself. At the same time, the artist creates new narratives that resonate with contemporary audiences, using ‘nostos’ as a lens through which to explore timeless human experiences.

 

In NOSTOS, Prince Nikolaos presents a dynamic dialogue of eloquent and vibrant monochromatic marble photographs with a series of limited-edition design pieces created in collaboration with STG that seamlessly connects the worlds of photography and design, inviting audiences to explore the intersection of aesthetics and functionality. Printing on marble, a method unique to the artist, who pushes the boundaries of photography and the printing process, has enabled him to combine the Greek natural element and the beauty of antiquity, with the modernity of digital printing, creating multifaceted design artworks. Paired with new black and white photographs on paper, the artist uses this distraction from color to emphasize his form and composition, focusing the attention of the viewer on the fundamental elements of the artworks.