Costas Varotsos Brings 'Elpís' to Lecce's Museo Castromediano

Greek artist Costas Varotsos (Athens, 1955) presents 'Elpís. Prometeo o del sogno infranto di Europa' at the Museo Castromediano in Lecce, curated by Luigi De Luca and Giusi Giaracuni. The exhibition features eight large-scale works, including luminous sculptures and glass installations—Varotsos's preferred material. Two pieces are site-specific; the rest span his career from the 1980s. The title references the ancient Greek word for 'hope,' the last gift in Pandora's box according to Hesiod. Varotsos connects the myth of Prometheus—who stole fire (techne) for humanity—to contemporary crises, contrasting despair over global politics with hope. A red 18-meter spear titled 'Elpís' stands outside the museum, symbolizing salvation. Inside, 'Prometeo,' a shimmering humanoid sculpture made of glass fragments, underscores humanity's centrality and the need to redefine our relationship with nature and technology, including AI. Varotsos, known for his work 'L’Approdo. Opera all’Umanità Migrante' on the Otranto waterfront—a memorial to the 1997 Albanian boat tragedy—returns to Apulia with this exhibition. He describes art as 'a continuous prayer' and a tool for critical thought on society and politics.