the Fish

One might regard these nature morte paintings as miniature landscapes. Rather than sunlit fields or sublime forests, the fish and fruits appear more intimate. They are shown on a table within a small space where they hold a familiar light related to the mystical yellows and reds found in the earlier landscapes. Viewers have often suggested to Nikos that these paintings are simply still-life paintings as if there was no further symbolic comment. But this is not true. From the perspec- tive of the artist, these paintings of dead fish and picked fruits refer to the breadth of human emotions, ranging from sadness to ecstatic joy. They symbolize a kind of completeness that is both present and absence in every- day life.

Robert C. Morgan, Ph.D.