Caught in the Flames

This sculptural installation is a tribute to the catastrophic wildfires that struck the Attica region of Athens, Greece, in 2018 during the summer, destroying homes, natural habitats and deeply affecting local communities. The work centers on human vulnerability and protection, with particular emphasis on motherhood as a symbol of sacrifice and defense.

The piece consists of three body mannequins and a two-faced form, coated in mud-rock and layered with graffiti spray paint. The female figure was partially burned with candle flames to create a scorched effect, distinguishing her role as a protective presence in contrast to the male figures. The base, originally an aluminum structure, was repainted black; its branching form evoked flames and became the conceptual catalyst for the work.

Fire is represented through sculpted flames made from wire, tissue paper and PVA glue, enveloping the bodies to convey immobility and entrapment. The figures were bound together with rope, reinforcing both physical stability and symbolic helplessness. Measuring approximately 2 meters in height, the installation expands beyond its original frame through the accumulation of bodies and fire. The work transforms found materials into a memorial, rooted in personal proximity to the disaster and the collective trauma it left behind.