Gallery
“Ikaros Ascending” 2003
28”H x 38”W x 9”D
Mixed media: antique barn wood, wire, Acrylic paint.
“Pre-Flight” 2001
34”H x 72”W x 2”D
Acrylics on canvas. (Wrapped canvas over sides)
Closeup Detail shot of Pre-Flight painting.
“Ikaros Pre-Flight #2” 2001
23”H x 47-1/2”W x 3”D
Mixed media: metal rods, encaustic and acrylics on heavy plywood.
Detail closeup shot of Ikaros Pre-Flight #2.
“Ikaros Encounter” 2001
48”H x 36’W
Oil Sticks on wood panel.
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THE MYTH OF IKAROS
In 1996, Lardis had a profound dream that he was actually Ikaria, the Island of his ancestors. The impact of the dream put him on a journey of creating images of the doomed youth who challenged the sun god, Helios. For over twenty years, Lardis created thirty-five artworks in oil sticks, mixed media, prints and sculptures. The artistic explorations ranged from small prints and drawings to a six-foot wide painting depicting the youth’s wings starting to unfold as he prepared for his doomed flight. Eventually, Ikaros flew too close to the sun and the broiling heat caused the wax holding the wing’s feathers in place to melt, sending the exuberant youth into the blue Aegean Sea. The myth claims that the Island of Ikaria rose from the sea where Ikaros fell.
Ikaros Stories
“Ikaros Ascending”
2003
28”H x 38”W x 9”D
Mixed media: antique barn wood, wire ,Acrylic paint.
The wooden box is made of antique barnwood, metal rods, and acrylics.
The Labyrinth of King Minos imprisoned Daedalus and his young son, Ikaros. Together they fashioned wings of found feathers, string, and bee’s wax and escaped the confines of the prison. Together they soared the brilliant blue sky until exuberant Ikaros flew too close to Helios and the sun’s rays caused the wax holding the feathers together to melt, sending the youth to his doom.
“Pre-Flight”
2001
34”H x 72”W x 2”D
Acrylics on canvas. (Wrapped canvas over sides)
Young Ikaros appears almost birdlike as he is illuminated from behind by the sun before his fatal flight. Light filters through his wings and a breeze from the Aegean Sea flutters through his hair. He radiates power as he prepares for the confrontation with Helios for freedom of the skies.
“Ikaros Pre-Flight #2”
2001
23”H x 47-1/2”W x 3”D
Mixed media: metal rods, encaustic and acrylics on heavy plywood.
Muscular Ikaros flexes his wings before his doomed flight with his father, Daedalus, as they escape King Minos’s Labyrinth prison. Together they ascend high in the sky until Ikaros oversteps his boundaries and flies higher and higher until he angers Helios who melts the wax in the youth’s wings and thereby ending his flight.
“Ikaros Encounter”
2001
48”H x 36’W
Oil Sticks on wood panel.
The two protagonists, Ikaros and Helios, are about to engage in an unwanted confrontation with the impetuous Ikaros overstepping his boundary. This angers Helios who melts the wax that fashioned the youth’s wings of feathers.
“Ikaros #4”
2001
40”H x 30”W
Oil Sticks on heavy paper mounted on Foam core with cellophane wrap.
Ikaros wraps his wings around his young body as he contemplates his flight with wings of wax and feathers created by his father, Daedalus. Together they would escape the Labyrinth prison of King Minos. The mood is somber as tragedy looms silently in the sunlit sky.
“Ikaros #11”
2001
48”H x 36”W
Oil Sticks on wood panel.
As the brooding Ikaros prepares for flight, he expands his wings made of feathers, string and bee’s wax to assure himself of his journey in the clear Aegean Sea air. Helios shines brightly behand Ikaros creating a deep outlined shadow of the doomed youth.
“Ikaros Returns”
2001
24”W x 48”H
Oil Sticks on wood panel.
The impetuous Ikaros is confronted by the sun, Helios, who melts the wax in the youth’s wings, causing him to fall past his father, Daedalus, into the blue Aegean Sea.
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