Every barrier has the ability to function as a means of defence, while also being inherently limiting. The need for a barrage to be raised derives from the need to protect against external threats, but often counters the internal, restricting them to a controlled environment. It isolates, while providing a form of repression, expressed either by establishing rules and regulations, or being followed as remedial treatment. In both cases, it concerns an organism, be it society as a whole, or the human being as an individual unit.
In Panagiotis Vorrias’ “Suppression Networks” series, the dual nature of the barrier is similar to the duality of human nature, as “exclude” and “include” function the same way as “ego” and “alter ego”. From this duality, we move on to the endless repetition of the same unit, each similar to the one before it, yet always unique, and thus, inevitably different. Thereby loops are created, shaped by the repeating patterns that are strictly arranged, ultimately forming a maze. Having the design and its linearity serve as core elements, and using drawing pens, rulers and rapidographs, with explicit reference to graphic design and architecture, a system is built that is easy to enter but almost impossible to exit. This complex system seems impenetrable, but its solid structure and stability are just a sham, as the dynamic interactions of its individual elements bring it to a state of constant inner vibration, threatening with imminent collapse.
Panagiotis Vorrias presents us with an attempt in maintaining balance, a disciplined set of seemingly similar organs that will soon display signs of entropy. It is a constant palindrome between order and disorder, quietness and noise, entirety and partiality. Within this repeated course, many types of interpretations can be developed, which are different to each viewer, in turn creating the work of art onto the blank surface of the paper, while projecting the artist as much as the viewer.

Art Historian
March 2013
Nikos Mykoniatis

Exhibitions: Floating Walls, Action Field Kodra, curation: Vassilis Zografos, Thessaloniki 2013
Solo exhibition, Art Center of Kalamata (ΚΤΚ), exhibition text: Nikos Mykoniatis, Kalamata 2013