Sketches, drafts and artistic installations
Archi – techni (art)
Born in Athens in 1963, Dimitri Capsis moved to Paris to study in Ecole Spéciale d'Architecture. He obtained his degree ESA in 1988. Paul Virilio (philosopher, author, architect, town planner, sociologist) was the supervising professor of his thesis; Anne Cauquelin (philosopher, novelist, essayist, artist) was a member of the examining committee.
He returned to Greece where he worked as an architect for 20 years, during which he created his personal collection of a great number of sketches and notes.
In 2011 he took up residence in Fribourg, Switzerland, where, alongside his job as an architect, he continued his artistic pursuits: his sketches developed into drafts and later into paintings, some of which became artistic installations.
He has been exhibiting his work in various cities in Switzerland, either in Individual or group exhibitions since 2014.
In his work, he focuses on the way everyday situations are perceived, he explores the notion of «seeing» from the moment the choice of the visual angle is made until the picture is framed and given its final touch.
His essential tools are classic drawing using pencil and pastel on plain paper, engraving on metal plates and the use of optical and other kinds of technology.
+History:-for the reopening of our atelier “Trait Noir” and for the visual arts competition CORONARTE :) !? του Visarte, June 2020
+Paintings:- 3 drawings 40 x 16 on white Kraft paper, hard pastel
+Installation:-Projection of a one minute video, in slow motion, on a vertical TV screen -Projection of a thirty seconds video, in real time, on the world wid web (Montage by Franz Maillard)
Can video surveillance become a means of expression?
During the first two weeks of December 2018:
-A camera was aiming at a specific point (the boss's table) of the Café du Théâtre (bistro - public place). The images were transmitted in real time on the TV screen of the Trait Noir workshop.
-A second camera was aiming at another location (the master's chair) in the Trait Noir workshop (private area). The images were also transmitted in real time on the TV screen of the Café du Théâtre.
Bistro regulars and workshop guests were informed by an announcement at the entrance, this text written on an information card and simultaneous activity on both screens (when one of the two screens was off, the other one was turning off too).
The purpose of this event was to establish memory conditions of the two places as the central theme of the artistic installation "SOUVENIR – SOUVENIR".
Sketches and paintings linked to this initiative were exhibited at the Trait Noir workshop.
Regulars of the Café du Théâtre could express themselves in a notebook placed on the bar. This notebook was offered, on December 16, 2018, to the owner of the bistro, Mr. Edgar Vonlanthen.
+ History: - First sketches in spring 2017 - Completion of painting "The master's chair" 2017 - Completion of painting "The boss's table" 2018 + Paintings: - Dimensions "The master's chair" 47 X 55 - Dimensions "The master's chair" 62 X 55 - On white kraft paper - Gouache + Installation supports: - Permission by the Prefecture of Sarine - 2 IsmartAlarm cameras - 2 TV screens - 2 HP Pcs - 3 Go high speed 4G mobile Internet (Salt).
A film is shown on a painting by means of a projector. The film has been shot from a fixed point of view, in the standards of telemonitoring. The camera as well as the painting focus on the face of the buildings in a specific street at a specific moment. The colored images of the randomly passing people and cars, in combination with the black and white painting, create the artistic installation "Le Gothard".
+ History : - First sketches in autumn 2015 - Beginning and completion of artistic representation in winter 2016 - Shooting the film in winter 2016 - Recording the film in a DVD in summer 2016.
+ Dessin final :+ Final draft : - On white paper kraft - Graphite, dry pastel with shades of white to black.
+ Painting : - Dimensions 34 X 76 - Old wooden gold-plated frame, an offer of Paul Stutzmann, - Two crystals (double-side) 100% transparent and 92% reflective.
+ Installation supports: - Projector (Acer, Full HD 1080) - DVD Player (Samsung, Blu-ray/DVD BD-J5500E) - Planned installation site (1,00 + 3,35) Χ (0,65 + 1,08) Χ 1,89
A camera placed opposite the painting records the movement of the visitors, which is projected directly on a screen. The artistic installation consists in people’s reactions to the black and white painting and their colored image which they discover on the screen. Then, a video clip is created, the final form of which is the framing of the painting "Les Arcades".
+ History:
- First sketches in summer 2014 - Beginning and completion of artistic representation in winter 201 - Presentation of artistic installation in September 2016.- Montage of video clip in winter 2017.
- Completion of drawing (mise en cadre) in spring 2017 - Especially dedicated.
+ Dessin:
+ Painting: - Dimensions 72 X 89 - On white paper kraft - Graphite, dry pastel with shades of white to black.
+ Installation supports:
- Camera (Sony, HDR-CX240E) - Téléviseur (Polaroid, 32" LED DVBT HD 1366 X 768) - Planned installation site 2,50 Χ 1,90 Χ 0,89.
+ Final painting:
- Dimensions 39 X 51 - Old white-gold frame, an offer of St Hilaire, - One crystal 100% transparent and 92% reflective.
a sketch based on a picture by Jean-Yves Piffard
Dimitri CAPSIS Grand-Rue 9 / 1700 Fribourg / tél (+41) 26 305 61 50 / dimcapsis@yahoo.gr / ΝΟ FOND Place of residence and work: Fribourg / Switzerland
