Alexis Vasilikos: Chasing the oceanic feeling

Alexis Vasilikos is a visual artist, editor and educator that lives between Athens and Leros. He studied photography in Athens, at Focus and A.k.t.o., and Art History at D.A.M.S. in Bologna. He works primarily with photography and through his work, he explores a broad spectrum of imagery ranging from peripatetic photography to abstract and post-photography. Vasilikos’ work is closely related with his studies in Yoga and Eastern philosophy. Since 2012 he has been co-editing Phases Magazine, an online fine art photography magazine. Ηe is represented by CAN Christina Androulidaki Gallery and his work has been exhibited worldwide and is part of private and public collections.

Oceanic is a long-term work in progress and a series of images that revolve around the oceanic feeling. In a 1927 letter to Sigmund Freud, Romain Rolland coined the phrase “oceanic feeling” to refer to the sensation of being one with the universe. According to Rolland, this feeling is the source of all the religious energy that permeates in various religious systems, and one may justifiably call oneself religious on the basis of this oceanic feeling alone, even if one renounces every belief and every illusion. Most of the images of this series are made in Leros.