Konstantino Dregos Countless Dependencies

It is virtually impossible to divorce philosophy from physical gesture in the work of Konstantino Dregos. In his recent painting series, Prima Materia, the Berlin-based Greek artist confronts the weight of ontological inquiry: What does it mean to exist as an individual in a contemporary landscape? And is "individuality," as we traditionally define it, even sustainable? 

These questions are embedded within the very textures of Dregos’ gestures. Central to this body of work is the recurring "+1" motif, applied with a rhythmic, almost ritualistic compulsion. Each iteration is distinct, yet as they accumulate, they recede into the illusory depths of the pigment, creating a dense field of visual static. 

In Western thought, the number "1" is symbolic of independence and the Ego. Dregos conceptually destabilizes this autonomy by prefixing each "1" with a "+". This simple addition suggests a state of constant external dependency: a reminder that the "singular self" is perpetually modified and diluted by outside forces until the concept of the individual begins to evaporate. 

On a deeper level, Dregos uses this motif to explore the search for prima materia: the primordial matter of the universe. He posits that we navigate a reality constructed of symbols, descriptions, and semiotic codes – a world built by humans, for humans. By obsessively scribing "+1," Dregos charts the friction between this linguistic "veneer" and the raw, unnamable reality beneath it. The work becomes a visceral record of a border crossing: the precise point where the symbol fails and the essence begins. Ultimately, this series challenges us to consider how our perceived reality is mediated through the images we create. 

Text by Martyna Stopyra