Greek Artist Konstantin Kakanias Debuts a Whimsical Furniture Line

Veta Steanidou Tsoukala, the founder of the Athens-based Stefanidou Tsoukala Gallery, might've sparked a new creative streak in Konstantin Kakanias after she approached the Greek artist to work on a mural together on the island of Ios a few years ago. It was a "completely new role, new challenge, new opportunity in a way of having a new expression, Kakanias said of the project. "I really believe in creating as much as we can, in whatever way we can." This collaboration with the gallery led Kakanias to his latest venture: his first home collection done in partnership with the gallery, furthering the artist's expression between art and object.

Debuted at this year's Paris Design & Art Week, the furniture line is a continuation of the illustrator's knack for whimsy, which can be seen in his past projects for Yves Saint Laurent (he began his career designing fabrics for the designer), Cartier, Dior, and Gucci (Kakanias is credited for reimagining the Gucci logo as a snake.)

There's the Mrs. Tependris Cabinet which features the cartoon character that Kakanias first introduced to the world in 1996 and The Poseidon Cabinet where the Greek god is surrounded by jellyfish. Consumers can take their turn embodying the ultra-vain Greek figure Narcissus, by peering at themselves in the Narcissus Mirror, or imagine themselves as a resting deity by placing their ambrosia on a bronze foot side-table while lounging on a serpentine chaise lounge. For the wallpaper, Kakanias looked to the plants in the ancient Greek physician Pedanius Dioscorides's ancient encyclopedia of botany, which he rendered as an aquatic jungle with hand-painted flora on a deep blue background. There are only five pieces of each item available.

Of course, both the gallery and the illustrator have their mind on the Paris Olympics 2024 (let's not forget where the Olympic games originated). Kakanias designed a rug where Mrs. Tependris runs around town visiting various Parisian Landmarks, jumping hurdles, or carrying torches. It may be concluded that the motifs play on the Greek story of the messenger Filippides, who ran 26 miles from the battle of Marathon to Athens to deliver the news that the Greeks had prevailed against the Persians.

“I love art as a useful commodity,” Kakanias told WWD. “I love art as a cup, or a pot, or a screen. I love it, and I don’t think it’s lesser. I think it’s wonderful to have the ability to express oneself in many stages and many mediums.”

For more information, please visit padesignart.com.

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