“Against figurative backgrounds of nighttime beaches and swimming pools, colorful abstract forms emerge from the canvas, appearing to flow into or erupt from the painted surface.

While initially playful, the series Restless Whispers reveals an underlying tension. The landscapes derive from photographs of parties and after-parties, where the identities of the participants have faded, leaving behind traces of light and presence. Thick layers of paint catch and reflect light, emphasizing the materiality of the surface. Paint is applied rhythmically—flung, smeared, and built up with a palette knife rather than a brush—transforming painting into a physical process. Influenced by his simultaneous engagement with sculpture, Stoantzikis constructs the painted surface in layers, at times cutting through the accumulated oil paint to reveal earlier strata beneath.”

Merel van den Nieuwenhof

Gallery Bart / Amsterdam