Inspired by street art and the skate/snow culture of Greece, renowned graffiti artist Dimitris Liossis has transformed the space of Gallery Sarri 12 into a unique skate ramp that looks like an inverted church dome.

Using markers, spray paint, stencils and drawing inspiration from the animal kingdom and the Roman church of Sant’Ignazio, ‘Redefining Transitions’ is one of the most artistic skate ramps to be built.

“It took me five months of extensive work and dedication to finish it, not to mention some much appreciated help from friends,” Dimitris Liossis tells Neos Kosmos.

“The construction took me four months and the artwork one more full month.”

Since the opening, the project has garnered a lot of attention from Greek and international media, not to mention hundreds of art and skateboard lovers, who came to see and even try it themselves.

“The basic reason an artist hosts a show at a gallery is to impart a message,” he says.

“This particular show has three segments, and three divisive timelines so the messages vary.”

“Of course, every viewer is unique and sees things differently and in their own way.”

Dimitris’ goal as British brand ANIMAL’s team manager is to create a good team in various sports with new, upcoming riders, and develop alongside them, especially after the closing down of Skate Plaza in Athens.

“We need to support the scene as much as we can,” he adds.

“I think it’s kind of funny and romanticised to expect the government to do anything at this moment when basic institutions like public education, hospitals, infrastructure (roads, sidewalks etc.) are broken.”

Dimitris stresses that years ago the EU gave money to local authorities in Greece in order to create skateparks. With only few bright exceptions such as the city of Chalkida, most of the municipalities stuffed the money into their own pockets, he believes.

Born in Athens in 1970, Dimitri worked out early on that his love of sport and art could mesh. He has been a skier from the age of four, a windsurfer, snowboarder and BMXer for nearly 30 years. In 1999 he took up surfing, but his love for skateboarding has taken his artistic side to a whole different level.

“From a very young age I took on several board-related sports, from windsurfing to snowboarding and surfing,” he tells.

“Skating came naturally, although I never was a hardcore skater. I always enjoyed bowl-riding, though.”

As a street artist, he has taken part in many art shows and graffiti festivals all over the world. His personal projects include the snowboard park in Kalavryta (2002), in Parnassus (2003-2004), dropin magazine, the skate bowl art installation ‘invert room’ and the digging of the dirt wave.

“Since I can remember, I’ve loved drawing and painting,” Dimitris explains.

“One day, a friend suggested we go and spray-paint a wall. I immediately got hooked. The rest is history.”

Dimitris has organised several graffiti, skate, snowboard and BMX events over the past two decades but his next project is especially dedicated to the sea.
“I will participate in a team exhibition inspired by the surf culture,” he says.

“My goal is to create some art pieces using broken surfboards.”

* The exhibition will be on till 15 April. For more information www.dimitrisliossis.com

Photos: Courtesy of Skateism.com