Το βασίλειο των κόκκινων δράκων

000371 Nikos Yialouris, The Kingdom of the Red Dragons, n.d., mixed media on cardboard, 90,5 × 22,5 cm

The Kingdom of the Red Dragons could be dated to around 1980, the period when Yialouris published his book Chian Fairy Tales (1981). The narrow vertical composition unfolds upwards, employing a perspective derived from Byzantine and folk art. In the foreground, a large red dragon with green and yellow scales is depicted. Behind it, big walls and rugged rocks are visible, with two smaller dragons nestled among them. At the top part of the image (which represents depth, according to folk perspective), a tall castle is placed, crowned by the All-Seeing Eye (the Eye of Providence). The rough drawing, with its bold outlines and vibrant, luminous colours, reflects the painter's apprenticeship in the folk art. At the same time, details within the composition reveal the richness of his personal artistic style.