Composition 1963

Nikos Nikolaou painted this composition with oil on plywood. The choice of such an ordinary material immediately suggests that this artwork moves away from traditional fine art conventions. Plywood is a manufactured material, made from thin layers of wood veneer glued together. Its use here, instead of canvas, flattens the image and gives it an everyday quality. The wood grain peeks through the paint, adding texture, while the cut edges are clearly visible, emphasizing the material’s constructed nature. This approach aligns with the aesthetics of folk art, where available resources are skillfully turned into expressive forms. By embracing such materials, Nikolaou elevates the mundane. He prompts us to consider the social context of making. Nikolaou asks us to rethink what we consider to be art. He pushes beyond conventional boundaries. He reminds us that creativity can emerge from unexpected places, and that the act of making is itself a form of cultural expression.