Stratis Tavlaridis’ Long Waves is a large-scale installation of hand-made paper created using the papercut technique. Reminiscent of the water’s gentle flow and at the same time resembling fishing nets, the installation aims to awaken us to the destruction happening around us and the imperative importance of caring for the seas.
Long Waves is entirely created from 30-gram handmade paper from Nepal, a material noted for its sustainability and traditional crafting methods. The choice of this particular material, with which Tavlaridis has worked almost exclusively throughout his career, underscores the artist’s commitment to both artistic expression and environmental responsibility. Tavlaridis paints by removing geometric and abstract patterns using a surgical scalpel, creating a powerful metaphor for the resilience of the sea. The paper’s fragility and delicacy highlight the subtlety, movement, and vulnerability that are central to his work. These undulating forms capture the water’s perpetual, mesmerizing motion, a serene yet dynamic representation of waves, embodying both the beauty and the fragility of the marine environment.
Tavlaridis aims to awaken the public to the often-overlooked consequences of our actions on marine ecosystems. By immersing viewers in a tangible representation of the sea, he encourages a deeper reflection on our collective responsibility to protect and preserve the natural world. The installation serves as a poignant reminder that we are integral to the environmental destruction occurring around us and that the power to reverse this course is in our hands.
The sea, for Tavlaridis, has been a source of continuous inspiration, reflecting the concept of ‘long duration.’ Since ancient times, humanity has relied on the sea for movement, migration, and cultural exchange. Long Waves mirrors this enduring relationship, highlighting how the sea has been both a conduit for and a witness to the development of civilizations. Tavlaridis’ thought-provoking work underscores the idea that the sea is a living entity, crucial to the planet’s health, yet increasingly endangered by human activity. The installation challenges us to recognize our role in environmental degradation and inspires a renewed commitment to preserving the oceans. Through this work, Tavlaridis invites us to see the beauty and significance of what we often overlook, reminding us of our shared responsibility to care for the natural world.
