Λαβύρινθος

001066 Nikos Yialouris, Labyrinth, 2000, mixed media on paper, 86 × 67 cm

Within a red-and-black labyrinth roam two bulls—or rather one bull, entering from one side (top) and exiting on the other (bottom). At various entrance and exit points, warrior helmets are placed as obstacles. The composition is simple but reflects the artist’s long engagement with graphic design, publishing, and illustration. The flat surfaces of the labyrinth, the repeated helmet motif, the schematic rendering of the animal, and the bright, pure colours all support this reading. At the same time, it should not be overlooked that Yialouris drew fruitful influence from the American Pop Art movement. From his perspective, he sought to merge his allegorical visual language with the digestible symbols of postwar consumer society. The Labyrinth is perhaps one of his most successful attempts in this direction—a critical gaze by Yialouris on the present, through symbols inspired by the distant past.