This is an ongoing series of works that started in 2018.

Concept

This series merges classical life painting with the aesthetics of digital communication. Each portrait captures a real moment, while the added banner — featuring a timestamp and comment — highlights the influence of social media. The project examines how digital framing shapes our perception of identity and reality.

Beyond the subjects depicted, the artist becomes an integral part of the scene, sharing personal thoughts and artistic challenges through the text. The work is not just a representation of an individual but a reflection of the creative struggle occurring within the artist’s mind. In this way, the viewer is invited to step into the artistic process, becoming an active participant in its unfolding narrative.

Social media has transformed how we experience and document real events — it has become the new frame for reality. The familiar format of posts, timestamps, and commentary makes these moments feel immediate and believable. By integrating these elements into traditional painting, this series plays with the tension between authenticity and constructed perception, questioning how digital tools shape what we accept as real.

Inspiration

This series draws inspiration from the visual and interactive language of social media platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, Threads, Pinterest, X/Twitter, Tik Tok, Reddit, and Tumblr. These digital spaces have transformed the way images are shared, experienced, and interpreted, shaping modern perceptions of reality and identity.

The project also draws from the tradition of old master portraiture, where paintings served as historical records of events like weddings and ceremonies, offering proof of their occurrence. By blending these influences, the series explores how contemporary visual culture continues to evolve, reshaping the way we document and validate experiences.

Process

These are paintings of nudes in social media post format that include a banner with a time stamp and a text. The paintings are either oil, acrylics or watercolors.

Current Works

Abi T1

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Dedicated Artwork Page:
https://miltosdespoudis.gr/archive/paintings/a20081800/

Eleni T1

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Dedicated Artwork Page:
https://miltosdespoudis.gr/archive/paintings/a18062900/

Eleni T2

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Dedicated Artwork Page:
https://miltosdespoudis.gr/archive/paintings/a18101900/

Kroppa

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Dedicated Artwork Page:
https://miltosdespoudis.gr/archive/paintings/a18062901/

Future Works

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