He is one of the most famous street artists, with many of his works adorning the streets of Athens and not only. But Simple G has also signed the paintings that guests can admire at the rooms and suites of the brand-new IVIS 4 boutique hotel in the heart of Psiri!
How did street art enter your life, Giorgos?
Street art entered my life in 2009 in a local festival of the area I lived in, when I painted using a spray for the first time.
You have studied hagiography by became famous as a wall painter. What is so attractive to you when you get your brush or spray and paint the walls of the city?
It is definitely charming to have the ability to paint in a public space. However, mixing colours or making movements using the spray is something words cannot describe. It could be just like cooking a food you like or dancing.
While he was creating in Metaxourgeio
How did you feel when your phone rang and you were asked to mark with your signature at the inner and outer spaces of IVIS 4 Boutique Hotel?
My phone rings frequently for projects like this and I usually do not undertake everything. When I saw IVIS 4 from close it was right after it was built and I needed a lot of imagination. However, what made me accept this project was seeing the illustration on 3D design about how it would be made. It had that something I liked and so I had a strong desire to do it.
Were there any specific criteria for adorning the hotel’s spaces?
In collaboration with the owners, we wanted to give life, harmony and elegance to the space. Therefore the designs were created in the most minimalist style possible, so that guests would feel comfortable.
Where do the murals of IVIS 4 extract their themes from?
The works at IVIS 4 are a like natural extension of the inner garden of the hotel, aiming, at the same time, to offer the space a sense of movement.
In which way can the colours you have chosen to use have an impact on the mood of guests?
I have mainly used with shades of green that were already in the space, mainly trying to create a continuity.
Which was the greatest challenge in this project?
The biggest challenge I faced was to achieve the right connection with the building architecture so that the space has no contrast, but harmony..
Can you see that a new road opens for artist of your kind?
Without a doubt it is something that we will see more and more in the future, like it happens abroad. Since an empty wall is always more interesting when it gets painted than a tapestry.
What is your source of inspiration for your works?
I am mainly inspired by the feelings that I have in a space. The themes are selected by Greek elements I observe and the trips I make.
Had you ever imagined that great businessmen would ask you to paint on a surface of their property?Actually it was hard to believe at the beginning of my career. But then I started observing the architectural design of buildings as well as the landscape where they are located and their option is almost a one-way street, as long as they can be brought to life with a work of art. Imagine that now the passers-by take pictures of walls, while in the past they would just ignore them.
Is there an iconic building in Athens that you would like to have as a project?
I do not have high ambitions, as I think that big ideas can even fit in a piece of paper and stay in history. However, there are many buildings on which I would like to have painted (even if another artist has done so), just to showcase the location of the building in the best way possible.
In your opinion, can painting influence the vortex of our everyday life in Athens?
Painting is the only thing that could save our everyday life as it is, because it is impossible to demolish the Greek capital and re-build it the way it should be.
