Matlakas

Riccardo Matlakas is a performance artist who has exhibited and performed around the world across Europe, the United States, Asia as well as in South America. He has performed at INACT Festival in Strasbourg France, Denver Understudy performance event curated by Quinn Duke, The Opening Gallery in Tribeca, New York, Pompei Art Fest in Italy, 5th Exhibition of Performances in San Paulo, Brazil, Linfa Art Festival, Monticello Amiata in Tuscany, Italy, Borgo Universo in Abruzzo, Italy, Territori Performance festival in Ibiza, Spain, and the Tramshed Theatre, London. Matlakas has had solo exhibitions at Estudi Our Costa in Ibiza, Spain, Depoo Gallery in Sofia, Bulgaria, Lighthouse in the Woods Museum in Soyang, Wanju, South Korea, Sunflower Hostel in Berlin, and Castel Dell’ Ovo in Naples, Italy.

The conceptual performance work of Matlakas involves reactionary improvisations with props which have sociological as well as psychological implications. Matlakas’ performance art touches upon a variety of themes, all of which have contemporary inclinations, such as war, the purpose of self-identity, nihilism, communication, the value of human life, and political corruption. His works are often imposing and shocking, such as building a makeshift wearable head-cage full of sharp knives pointing at Matlakas’ head or harnessing an apparatus which melts different flavors of ice cream onto his face symbolizing the colors of the Korean flags, hoping for an end to the war and national unity

. 

Often addressing important social issues, Matlakas will take conceptually relevant objects which fit the theme of addressing the societal concern. Such as holding a frozen cube of Saffron and allowing it to melt and pour onto his body and face, symbolizing the sacred flowery substance’s requirement for water. Such a piece specifically addresses the drought and water-shortage crisis facing Iran. Other performances meanwhile have more poetic and indirect connotations such as trapping himself in barbed wire full of thorny roses. Although the performance is generally about the concept of transformation, the piece also reflects sociological concerns addressing Matlakas’ desire to see change in the world against racism, brutality, violence, and injustice.

Human Typer (pictured above) depicts Matlakas as a literal human typewriter. He specifically spells out words such as ‘horror’, ‘independence’, and ‘conscious’ which reflect various emotions and yearnings. The conceptual approach of the performance entails highlighting the importance of communication. Matlakas constructs an ‘analogue’ bridge which slows down the process and method of communication, emphasizing a vital nature on the exchange of thoughts and ideas, especially in the information age. 

Riccardo Matlakas not only advances performance art, but also conceptual art as well to become purpose-driven modes of expression and communication. By addressing relevant issues which have deep philosophical, sociological, and psychological significance to billions of people on the planet, he makes performance art more accessible. His direct approach to performance reflects a desire to craft the artform beyond a means of aesthetics or metaphor and into realms of undeviating focus on issues which have a human impact, both literally and symbolically.

Photo credits: Anita de Austria, Kwon Young, Fereidoun Farboud, Leonardo Damo

https://www.matlakas.co.uk