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Throughout countless centuries and eras, tra- versing intricate, maze-like pathways of time, over wild, chaotic expanses of space, and across immense, fathomless universes, amidst grand reflec-tions of pasts and potential futures, filled with possibilities, improbabilities, shadowy guesses, deep imaginations, and hazy doubts about what exists, what has or hasn’t existed, or what may grow or di- minish, be conceived or remain hidden in potential- ity, every race, gender, and society of human-kind, and each individual striving for uniqueness and di- vinity, all contribute to the collective en-deavor of crafting the image of God.
Regardless of faith or skepticism, simplicity or sophistication, knowingly or unknowingly, people carve out the unexpressed, mold the unmanifested, and trace the profound mystery of the Supreme En- tity, who is unfathomable and all-encompassing. Humans are innately drawn to believe in, expect, and love something beyond themselves, something “OUT-SIDE,” regardless of their desire. Their exis- tence seems interwoven with this belief and love, an intrinsic part of their being. Every action, observa- tion, assumption, dream, or affection appears as an attempt to connect with this unseen, transcendent presence. In their quest to articulate the inex-press- ible, they use tangible means to seek to embody the essence of the divine. Love and faith, in this context,
are not merely emotions or beliefs but fundamental states of existence. Every act of collaboration or trust becomes a way to perceive the ineffable. The arts serve as a medium for this profound interaction be- tween humans and their destiny, attempting to ar- ticulate the unspeakable mystery. Diverse cultures and individual creators add their unique strokes to this ongoing, universal portrayal of divinity, woven through the fabric of time.
Bishop Maxim adds to this narrative with his de- pictions of Jesus Christ, the God-man, and His Saints, beginning with the Mother of God, and ex- tending to portraits of both renowned and ordinary individuals. His foray into the depths of art is marked by authenticity and self-confidence, signaling that he should now rely solely on his own instincts. His continual evolution is evident. Since his inaugural exhibition in Athens in 2021, a succession of new shows has highlighted his artistic development.
The distinct approach and detailing in the phys- iognomy of characters in Bishop Maxim’s latest works breathe fresh life into his art, setting them apart from his earlier pieces. He exhibits careful re- straint in his use of color, ensuring it doesn’t over- power the drawing lines. He has ingeniously found ways to connect Byzantine art with contemporary culture, showcasing remarkable creativity and rele- vance in his work.
Foreword
Fr. Stamatis Skliris
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