By Panagiotis Dalatariof.
Theodoros Kokkinidis is the man who turns well-known personalities from Greece and beyond into wax figures.
Konstantinos Karamanlis, Melina Mercouri, Maria Callas and Mikis Theodorakis – They are just a few of the 35 personalities that have become wax figures by the hands of Kokkinidis.
To mark the bicentenary of the Greek Revolution two years ago, the artist turned six heroes and heroines of the National Struggle into wax – Manto Mavrogenous, Georgios Karaiskakis, Theodoros Kolokotronis, Laskarina Bouboulina and Ioannis Kapodistrias.
Kokkinidis was born in 1977 in West Berlin to German immigrant parents. He lived and grew up in Kipia, Kavala, until he was 18 years old. From a very young age, he showed his love for the arts. He studied music, engaged in singing and painting. At the age of 16, as a high school student, he took part in a competition organised by the Greek Education Department in the country’s schools and won first prize.
Since 2010, he has operated the wax museum of Kipia, Kavala, which has attracted interest from all over the world.
Through The Greek Herald, Kokkinidis speaks about his Greek Revolution collection and does not hide his desire to bring the collection to Australia.
How did your love of creating wax figures came about?
I have been painting ever since I can remember. I used to love drawing faces, portraits of my favourite childhood heroes. Growing up, somewhere in adolescence, I happened to see a tribute for the Madame Tussauds museum in London in a magazine. That was the stimulus to make a wax figure myself, impressed by how lifelike the faces looked. So I set out to make my first creation, which was Michael Jackson.
How old were you then?
I was 16 years old. I took my first steps using my imagination, since I didn’t know much about it. I only knew that the raw material had to be wax. So, I used a hair dryer to be able to give the wax shape and control the shape I wanted. This was not the proper way. Then I learned the process by trying to understand the methodology through research in books. There was no Internet at the time. Later, I had the opportunity to visit the Museum of Madame Tussauds, to meet some creators and they explained how a wax figure is made. That’s where I understood the process.
You are not just a sculptor. You also have your own museum.
Right. I was born in Berlin, but when I was 1.5 years old my parents returned to Greece. They stayed in Germany for 10 years. I started working with wax in Greece. The idea came about as follows: I was creating without the goal of marketing or selling my works. After all, it’s a fragile and delicate wax figure. So it was necessary to have a space for people to see them, who until then came to my workshop. And so in March 2010, came the museum. It was the natural evolution, I might say.
The museum has been open to the public for 13 years. How are your works received?
For me it is a great pleasure to have visitors here, because that is the goal: to share the joy of creation with the world. That has always been my goal when it comes to art. I am very glad to hear exclamations of surprise and admiration when I see them enter the museum. I listen to them, I talk to them, I listen to their opinions and we move on. People embraced this project and some visitors come again and again over the years.
Recently you created the heroes of 1821, who are a timeless symbol for our homeland and culture.
I am inspired by various themes and personalities. I would like to have the opportunity to live a great many years to be able to create all that I want and imagine. The creation of the works is slow. During the year I make two sculptures, at most three. Two is the average. Thus, I would like in the next few years to be able to create a maze of different themes that the visitor will be able to see when entering the museum.
Tell us more about the wax figures of the heroes of 1821.
The occasion was the 200 anniversary since the Greek Revolution, because I was able to get into this subject. It was 200 years before I was able to create these sculptures. Apart from the importance that these heroes had, who played a decisive role in the evolution of the place, even figuratively, the image they give to the museum is something different. All this research that was done about their costumes, their weapons, it was a very nice dive into history and I was very inspired by the heroes of the time.
Was it different to create heroes of 1821?
It was more difficult to give the style of the time, but it was easier to create a sculpture without dwelling on the absolute details like modern faces we know down to every wrinkle of every star, as they are photographed. So, I looked to give evidence of their personality through their gaze, from the information I had. This, then, left me more free to create with still greater pleasure.
Right now how many waxworks of Heroes of 1821 do you have?
There are five heroes, including Ioannis Kapodistrias.
So this collection took you over two years?
Yes, yes… I started working before 2021 so I could have projects on the anniversary.
How sculptures have you made so far?
I have 35 works but I still have one in the workshop that I haven’t presented because of an accident I had. So all up, 36. As soon as the next figure is completed they will be presented together.
I am surprised that the Ministry of Culture or some other institution has not yet approached you to bring the exhibition with the heroes of 1821 to Athens.
I think the reasons may be various. I feel, the official state can be a little slow in matters like this. I feel also that whatever does not originate in Athens is of secondary importance in the eyes of the official state. I say it with regret that those of us in the provinces are always a step further back.
Are tourists coming to your museum?
Many tourists come, especially in summer, which is the tourist season here in Kavala. It starts in spring and ends in September. Then there is a lot of traffic from foreign tourists. In the remaining months visitors come from all over Greece and I am very grateful, as I am grateful to all the press who support and communicate with the museum.
The Greek community in Australia love exhibitions like yours. Are you envisioning your wax figures to travel to Australia?
I would very much like my exhibition to travel in general-especially when we talk about Australia where Hellenism is so present. However, it is very difficult to travel the sculptures because products made from wax are very fragile. It is also expensive to transport them. Nevertheless, it gives me immense happiness to be able to present my works in other locations or even countries. It will also be a bridge to meet other people. I would dare under conditions. It is very difficult to disassemble, to transport, to be re-dressed, to be reburied, to be lit accordingly, the temperatures not to be high so that we do not have damage and the works are not destroyed.
You are now in a recovery period from an accident you had. What are your next plans?
I’m looking forward to working again. I see a sculpture that I have not finished, I want to finish it. From the spring onwards I shall be able to complete it. Two projects will be presented this summer.
*All photos credit: Photo: Wax Museum / Kokkinidis Theodoros
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