Answers to Inner Questions

Elias Kontozamanis was born in 1990 in Lucerne and spent his early years in both Switzerland and Austria. His mother is Austrian, and his father is Greek, shaping his cultural identity. Later, his parents decided to move to Greece, where Elias spent most of his childhood and adolescence. He grew up in the countryside, surrounded by nature, together with his three brothers.

Nature played a central role in Elias’s life from an early age. After school, he and his brothers spent as much time as possible outdoors, exploring the surroundings on their excursions and enjoying life in the open air. His childhood was especially shaped by the nights under the clear starry sky and diving in the sea. Even before Elias and his brothers could walk properly, their mother taught them to swim – and Elias developed a special connection to the depths of the sea, where he could almost move in another world.

His fascination with nature was not limited to the sea. The alpine landscape also left a deep impression on Elias. Every winter, he visited his grandparents in Austria with his family, and the imposing mountain world made him reflect. The mountains, which for him told stories of Earth's history, awakened an awareness of the forces of nature and the cosmos that has stayed with him throughout his life.

In school, Elias showed particular interest in the natural sciences, where he could deepen his curiosity about the interconnectedness of nature. After graduating, he initially chose to study architecture in Innsbruck. However, after four semesters, he felt this was not his path and switched to the military academy in Greece, where he trained as a helicopter pilot. While flying, he discovered a new dimension of freedom that reminded him of his underwater experiences – only now, he could observe the world from above.

In 2019, Elias eventually returned to his birthplace, Switzerland. In the nature of the Alps and the forests, he found himself and decided to train as a forest worker. He then began studying forest sciences in Bern, where he lives today.

Painting had always been a constant companion in Elias' life, but by the end of 2023, he began to delve more intensively into abstract art. He sought answers to inner questions through painting and found a way to better understand himself. His calm, patient nature and his thinking, shaped by natural science and philosophy, are reflected in his paintings. With his art, Elias hopes to stimulate people's senses and expand their perception of the cosmos.

22.09 - 03.11.2024.  Exhibition "Answers to Inner Questions" at Kunstkeller Konstanz Gallery