Focused on basic forms, Thanos Klonaris creates sceneries that lack the element of scale and human presence but at the same time, evoke feelings of wanderlust and veneration. However, this is just a first reading of his work as one can understand way more if were to pay attention to the small details of Klonaris’ ‘utopias’. Elements such as endless valleys and impenetrable rocks, dangling planes hung from mere nothingness and mesmerizing landscapes are all taking part in a greater narration of what is real, what is possible and what is human interference after all.
It is quite fair to say that Klonaris acts as an artist through the lens of an architect. Apart from his obvious preference of geometric forms, most of his works express sociopolitical notions through the alteration of some of the most classic architectural representation techniques. Plan views, isometric drawings and photorealistic images (mostly in their framing) are being used as a medium of something more than just the plain representation of a structure. From Space in Place exhibition (curated by Artemis Potamianou, 2010) to Scale 1:1 (Klonaris’ solo show back in 2007) and Drawing Screen (curated by Sotiris Bahtsetzis in 2006), his outlook on place, scale and imaginary landscapes is changing as years go by, revealing even more aspects of what one could call a ‘utopia’.