Kleomenis Kostopoulos (KLE)

Fat Cap questions to the relevant people.

Today, Kleomenis Kostopoulos (KLE) is the artistic director and "soul" of Art in Progress and the International Street Art Festival ArtWalks in Patras.

The creation of KLE's recent mural "Maria Callas - Kalamata" at Aristomenous 38 was voted the best in the world for 2025 by Street Art Cities, in which approximately 1,913 cities from around the world participate. The work has an environmental richness with birds, olive trees, vineyards. As he himself says in an interview, his aim was to depict the "natural richness of Kalamata" (December 2025, OpenTV).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tGGHDs_wtU

[Interview with AGC 2022]:

To whom does public urban space "belong" to?

In modern democratic societies, public space should belong to all citizens, without exception. What are the boundaries of public space today and how do we define this is a very important conversation, which would be interesting to start in Greece and not only…

Is Tagging and street art on and near monuments, landmarks, antiquities and public art works: "vandalism", "disrespect", reaction, expression?

Murals usually require special legal permits, due to the specific time constraints that are created. Therefore, the above characterizations cannot touch upon a legal agreement and the criticism can only be given on an aesthetic level. Of course, I agree with the thought that many laws in Greece need adjustment or improvement, even in these cases. Essentially, these characterizations mainly refer to the illegal action of tagging. My own distinction, therefore, in relation to “vandalism”, “disrespect” or “reaction”, has only to do with the aesthetic intervention and the intention of the creator. If I distinguish a comment based on aesthetic philosophy, then I can engage in any dialogue at a level of observation of social poverty.

 Expression must be primarily a spiritual process and does not need a specific point, place or building to be expressed. It can survive everywhere, and in any form, whether material or immaterial. The spirituality of expression also characterizes the quality of our society.

Who decides what will be deleted and what will be preserved? The one who has the “power and the decision” (note: KLE laughs loudly)

Fortunately or unfortunately, the owner as defined by the respective law.

Can Graffiti, with street art and tagging, be parts of a city's intangible cultural identity and heritage, and even "historical" ones?

In my opinion, it should be observed as a fact and selectively integrated into the cultural identity of a region or an era.

Tell us your own Fat Cap Story.

My most experiential relationship with art in public space is the creation and manhood of ArtWalk, in Patras. The only annual international festival of large-scale murals in Greece, which has been taking place since 2016. Its uniqueness also lies in the fact that this specific intervention is implemented by civil society, without any support from the local Municipality or the Ministry of Culture. Fortunately, it has the undivided love and support of the citizens themselves.