Iakovos Volkov

Sunday, August 19, 2012

still painting... on almost half abandoned marble workshop in the west area of thessaloniki...

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

almost abandoned carpet factory in thessaloniki... the main floor is dark and it's impossible to take photos, flashlight is necessary to walk...

Sunday, August 5, 2012

no painting this time... just exploring abandoned spaghetti factory...

Sunday, July 22, 2012

abandoned tobacco factory in thessaloniki visiting for the last 3 years...

Saturday, July 14, 2012

abandoned camp in asprovalta... a small trip returning from ferres...
http://alexpolisonline.blogspot.gr/2012/07/festival-graffiti.html

Sunday, July 8, 2012

almost abandoned tennis field in fanari,komotini....

Friday, July 6, 2012

almost abandoned cafeteria downtown in thessaloniki collaboration with ?...

Monday, June 25, 2012

on abandoned small warehouse in the brothels and chinese market area in thessaloniki...

Friday, June 22, 2012

some architectural intervention in thessaloniki's abandoned ex chemical factory...

about this diary

I started painting graffiti on walls when I was 15 and living in Thessaloniki. Over time, my thoughts about art evolved. I began creating installations in deteriorating areas of the city, mainly in abandoned factories. Since moving to Athens in 2014, I have frequently been invited to participate in gallery and museum exhibitions. For these venues I created sculptures that were site specific, independent freestanding works or pieces that could be installed on a gallery wall.

Primarily I work with discarded things - plastic, clothes, textiles and everyday items are my basic materials nowadays. I see value in things overlooked by others. Flowing from my history as a graffiti artist, I began building word sculptures. More recently I have also explored working abstractly, building objects and installations focused on composition and materials.

I deeply feel one can create meaningful work from small, ordinary things found abandoned on the street. Carefully observing my environment and experimenting with discovered materials, I construct meaning from the discarded, meticulously reconfiguring what society has worn out and broken. I restore life into forgotten places with what I have saved, giving a reason to consider places no longer noticed. For me, this work is essential.