Artist in conversation: Atlas
“ life is not a straight line, neither is art”
Atlas, a 20-year-old visionary artist, seeks to construct meaningful connections through the medium of art. Believing firmly that art serves as a powerful conduit for expressing the ineffable – those myriad thoughts and emotions the voice struggles to convey – Atlas is on a mission to unlock the essence of human feeling. To him, art is not just an expression but a key; a unique tool that liberates emotions from the confines of the human soul, allowing them to breathe and take form in the external world.
In Atlas's eyes, the omnipresence of art demands a shift from consumption to observation, a keen understanding that true beauty and revelation lie in the details often overlooked. In a modern era characterized by excess and distraction, he aspires to make a palpable difference, guiding others to see beyond the surface, to feel deeply and observe profoundly. Through his work, Atlas challenges us to confront our own perceptions, advocating for a world where art is not just seen, but felt, understood, and deeply integral to the human experience.
What initially inspired you to become an artist, and how did you develop your unique style?
I remember that from a very young age I was searching for ways to express my inner thoughts and curiosity. My initial inspiration was the comic books that I was "reading" (even before learning how to read and write) at the age of 4-5 years old, looking at the pages and wondering if I could create something similar. My first contact with pencil and paper was for the creation of my own comic book, inspired from Marvel's Spider-Man. The comic was called "Papani-man" because "Papani" was a nickname that my parents used to call me. I tried to find my own style when at the age of 7 my mother bought me a puzzle book - biography about the renaissance artists. I was shocked with the technique of Michael Angelo and the genius mystery of Da Vinci. They were my "mentors" from very early because of the mysterious aura that the renaissance era has. It was something mesmerising for me. My style went through a lot of ups and downs, and it cannot be explained. I prefer my style to be sensed and not explained to be honest. I want to have an identity and whoever sees my work to recognise it from afar. Thats what makes an artist special for me.
In terms of subject matter, what themes or motifs do you frequently explore in your work, and what draws you to these topics?
I tend to explore a variety of themes and aspects of life in my art because life is not a straight line, neither is art. In the past I have been interested in social matters and current events that were shocking me (Covid and confinement, Police brutality, war etc.) but with my own twist without making it feel recycled as a subject, because I prefer to approach a topic without letting the viewer feel that it is THAT simple . Also I have been creating my own universe with characters that fit to a specific era of my life and this is a project that I am working forever. Currently, humanity and technology is something that draws my attention and as you can see in my work for the previous London exhibition, I want to use technology as a tool to say something about the human race in general. I am very excited though to showcase my newest work that has to do with portraits of my imagination (freestyle) in 3D, and introduce you to many other interesting topics in the future.
Since your artists name is historical interesting, can you share how did you develop the persona "Atlas"?
In Greek mythology, Atlas was a titan that was punished (after the battle of the titans) to hold the sky that was considered a planet back then. Atlas is a symbol of strength to me and because I loved Greek mythology from a very young age, every-time something unfortunate happened to me as a child I remember thinking to myself that if Atlas was able to hold this big of a planet, it would be a shame if I am not brave enough in every problem that occurs and don't try more about something that I want. Also, I connected it with my full name which is Atie Nicolas (AT-ie nico-LAS).
Are there particular artists, movements, or styles that have significantly influenced your artistic journey?
In my art, I tend to depict the imaginary world and the surreal. Images that my mind collects and blends. This is why I am using inspiration from different artists as a weapon to approach the depth of my mind. Aside from the renaissance artists that I mentioned in another question, there were other artists that seriously constructed my style. For example in the early years I loved Salvador Dali's work because it seemed to me like a simplification of surrealism and fantasy. His dreamlike compositions encouraged me to push my artistic boundaries, while learning the fundamentals first. As the years passed and I was growing into a teenager, Jean-Michel Basquiat's pieces looked like something out of the box to me. He was the first that made me think about society and how to express these social-oriented thoughts with symbolism. It was the first time in my artistic journey that I learnt about breaking the rules. Currently, I tend to look up to artists like Hajime Sorayama, because through my art you can see the blend of hyperrealism and futuristic aesthetic, just like you can see it in his. His detail in robotic and metallic elements has inspired me to create the " UTOPIAN ", a piece that was exhibited in London. The last artist that I want to mention is Takashi Murakami. This person has inspired me in a different way, not like the others. I love his strongly related work to traditional Japanese art (anime). His art is majestic to me due to the fact that he combines playfulness (vivid colours , dynamic compositions) with a sophisticated aesthetic. I am also inspired by a lot of things and art pieces that I see everyday, but these people have touched my soul in a different way because they have things in common that I personally adore.
Can you share a project or piece of art that holds significant personal meaning to you, and explain the story or emotions behind it?
As far as my pieces are concerned, the piece that has a big emotional impact to me is "SLICE" that is also selected for the exhibition. This piece was created in a very unique time in my life and I prefer to keep to myself the story behind it. All I can say is that it is a landmark for me. As far as other artist's pieces are concerned, I can say that Basquiat's "dustheads" is a piece that has a big impact not only in my personal painting style, but also in my lifestyle. When I first saw this piece, I was taken aback by how much it was depicting myself as a person. It is chaotic and confusing, just like my thoughts when I want to create something before I make up my mind and get to the execution. It is a painting that produces a very special feeling to me that cannot be described in words. It is a relief to know that art like this exists, because it makes you feel free, it makes you feel that there are no limits, that even the chaos of mind and the complexity of thoughts can be creative and interesting. Sometimes even more interesting than clarity.
How do you incorporate feedback from critics and audiences into your artistic practice, and how do you balance this feedback with your own artistic intuition?
To me, incorporating feedback as an artist is a crucial thing for artistic growth and improvement. Due to the fact that I am 19 years old and relatively new to the art industry, I am not familiar enough yet with critics and their judgement, my philosophy though is that when I have to face criticism I have to value it in order to take a step forward. As far as the audience is concerned, everything has to do with perspective. An artwork can mean something totally different to me than it means to someone else. But that's the magic of art. You watch a movie for instance, but you are in a bad mood, the movie can be a comedy but you find it miserable because of your mood. The same theory applies to my art. I have to value, though, every kind of criticism and try to see it through the viewers eye. Most of the times I combine it with my intuition and the product is my full point of view. But as I mentioned, the magic of art is that you don't value it the same as someone else. This is giving polyphony and meaning to art.
How do you stay motivated and inspired despite any setbacks or creative blocks you may encounter?
As I said before, everything is about perspective. Creative blocks can mean also a break and time to recharge the creative batteries. The time between lacking creativity and finding it again is something to fall in love with, and not to be afraid of. You observe, you absorb feelings and images and you blend everything together so you can create something unique out of it. Of course there are times that you don't really have the need to create something, but subconsciously you earn from this period of time. The brain is having "screenshots" so you need to relax and enjoy the journey, so you can be even more creative. But this is just me, it works for me and it is really effective I must say. I suggest it to anyone that feels stress about a creative block. If we are talking about setbacks, the only thing that I can say is that the biggest pieces of art are those that are created in difficult times and eras of harshness in the artist's life.
How do you feel about exhibiting your artworks with The Holy Art Gallery?
When I received the email of acceptance for the London exhibition back in December of 2023, I was shocked, but also relieved that my art was having the recognition it deserves. I was following The Holy Art's account for a while and I was thrilled with how many artists have been able to showcase their work there. I was motivated to apply because the gallery is extremely close to my aesthetic and it supports the fresh and the innovative. I am excited to be part of every project and to have the chance of showing the world what I feel. The Holy Art will signify the beginning of my journey to becoming the artist and the creator I want to be and I am grateful for this opportunity. Big shout out to them!
Looking ahead, what are your long-term goals and aspirations as an artist, and how do you plan to achieve them?
My short term goal is to build the foundation for something big and exciting, while working really hard for it and exploring my creative potential. Long term , I want to make a living out of art either in the video game industry or the film industry because I have a lot of beautiful ideas and the confidence that I can bring them to life. This is how I grew up with, brainstorming and creating, so when I have a task to complete , I can say that I am a soldier. This doesn't mean that my art is going to be filtered, I want to be free and express every emotion that I have without hesitation. I want to learn, evolve and create in order to live through my art even when I am not physically around. This is the most important for me. Legacy. To be remembered and live eternally because you created something and you helped people with it.
What role does emotion play in your creative process, and and how do you aim to evoke specific feelings or reactions from those who view your artworks?
I want people to feel for my creations the same I was feeling when I fell in love with art. Emotion is everything. From the second we are born to the second we pass away, emotions follow us. Art to me is what you have when you put a raw life mixed with emotion in the blender. Living means feeling, feeling means art. Either it is a good feeling or a bad, in the end you love it because it made you feel something. Dopamine is produced and this is why for example you run back to a sad song, a scary movie, a "disturbing" art piece. Because it makes you feel alive. That you have sentiments and senses. This philosophy is what really enchanted me and keeps enchanting me every day. This is the message that I want to transfer through my art. I love seeing people looking at my art, it means that they are feeling something that I feel too. Or not , who knows? The important is that they interact with it mentally.