PRESENTATION:Antonis Kastrinakis-Brine Memory

Antonis Kastrinakis, *Ten Fish Meals*, 2009, Mixed media on rice paper and fabric, 71 × 171 cm, © Antonis Kastrinakis, Courtesy of the artist and the Benaki Museum.

The exhibition «Brine Memory» by Antonis Kastrinakis at the Benaki Museum presents a broad selection of works spanning approximately forty years of artistic creation. Curated by Konstantinos Papachristou and Konstantinos V. Proimos, the exhibition aims to expand our understanding of the artist beyond his well-known and particularly beloved “little ships” drawing attention also to the lesser-known aspects of his work.

By Vicky Trochidou
Photo: Benaki Museunm Archive

The first impression is immediate and striking. The colors are vivid and bright, and the compositions are rhythmic. The works evoke a sense of vitality and uplift that goes beyond mere aesthetic pleasure, reaching the viewer directly and effortlessly. Kastrinakis’ painting is not “self-referential,” but opens out towards the viewer. One can recognize familiar images, simple moments, landscapes, and experiences that seem shared, while simultaneously creating a space in which the viewer can reflect and see their own experiences.

Kastrinakis adopts an aesthetic of simplicity and repeated forms that favor immediacy over complexity. In this context, the use of diverse materials, such as brown paper bags, appears discreetly, reinforcing a sense of freedom in the creative process and highlighting the connection between painting and everyday life.

The title «Brine Memory» aptly reflects the character of Kastrinakis’ works. Brine evokes something immediate and sensory, an experience associated with the sea, light, and movement. Memory, in this context, does not appear as a past to be represented, but as something activated through the image.

Being presented on the same floor as the retrospective of Alexis Akrithakis adds an additional layer to the experience. This proximity does not invite comparison but fosters a thoughtful exchange between the works, allowing viewers to move between two distinct approaches and enrich their perception of the display.

Overall, the exhibition invites viewers to discover the beauty in everyday life through colors, forms, and simple materials, restoring painting to a direct and reflective relationship with life.

Photo: Antonis Kastrinakis, Ten Fish Meals, 2009, Mixed media on rice paper and fabric, 71 × 171 cm, © Antonis Kastrinakis, Courtesy of the artist and the Benaki Museum

Info: Benaki Museum, 138 Piraeus Street, Athens, Greece, Duration: 12/4-24/5/2026, Days & Hours:  Thu & Sun 10:00-18:00, Fri-Sat 10:00-22:00, www.benaki.org/

Antonis Kastrinakis, Red Forks, 1997,, Oil on canvas, 33 × 33 cm, © Antonis Kastrinakis, Courtesy of the artist and the Benaki Museum
Antonis Kastrinakis, Red Forks, 1997, Oil on canvas, 33 × 33 cm, © Antonis Kastrinakis, Courtesy of the artist and the Benaki Museum

 

 

Antonis Kastrinakis, *Mountain Philambelos I*, 1998, Oil on canvas, 33 × 33 cm, © Antonis Kastrinakis, Courtesy of the artist and the Benaki Museum.
Antonis Kastrinakis, *Mountain Philambelos I, 1998, Oil on canvas, 33 × 33 cm, © Antonis Kastrinakis, Courtesy of the artist and the Benaki Museum

 

 

Antonis Kastrinakis, *Night in Loutraki I*, 1997, Oil on canvas, 33 × 33 cm, © Antonis Kastrinakis, Courtesy of the artist and the Benaki Museum.
Antonis Kastrinakis, Night in Loutraki I, 1997, Oil on canvas, 33 × 33 cm, © Antonis Kastrinakis, Courtesy of the artist and the Benaki Museum

 

 

Antonis Kastrinakis, *Smolensky Street*, 1994, Oil on canvas, 80.5 × 80.5 cm, © Antonis Kastrinakis, Courtesy of the artist and the Benaki Museum.
Antonis Kastrinakis, Smolensky Street, 1994, Oil on canvas, 80.5 × 80.5 cm, © Antonis Kastrinakis, Courtesy of the artist and the Benaki Museum

 

 

Antonis Kastrinakis, Three Common Pandoras, 2025, Powders on paper, 72 × 101 cm, © Antonis Kastrinakis, Courtesy the artist and Benaki Museum
Antonis Kastrinakis, Three Common Pandoras, 2025, Powders on paper, 72 × 101 cm, © Antonis Kastrinakis, Courtesy the artist and Benaki Museum

 

 

Antonis Kastrinakis, *Island IIII*, 2022, Water-based oil paint on wood, 29.5 × 29.5 cm, © Antonis Kastrinakis, Courtesy of the artist and the Benaki Museum.
Antonis Kastrinakis, Island IIII, 2022, Water-based oil paint on wood, 29.5 × 29.5 cm, © Antonis Kastrinakis, Courtesy of the artist and the Benaki Museum

 

 

Antonis Kastrinakis, Lunch in Klima, 2025, Oil on canvas, 72 × 72 cm, © Antonis Kastrinakis, Courtesy of the artist and the Benaki Museum.
Antonis Kastrinakis, Lunch in Klima, 2025, Oil on canvas, 72 × 72 cm, © Antonis Kastrinakis, Courtesy of the artist and the Benaki Museum