The World As Rendered Through Alexis Christodoulou’s Eyes

Having worked as a copywriter for the past decade, Alexis became interested in rendering as a hobby — simultaneously satisfying his childhood fascination of artificial worlds, “Since I was young I’ve always been fascinated by the worlds created in video games,” he explains, “but became frustrated at their lack of modern aesthetics and tendency to always be rooted in fantasy, science fiction or some 20th century war.” As such, Alexis has established his own unique aesthetic — reimagining our world stripped of any unnecessary elements to heighten the focus on the form, structure and color choices which characterize each artwork.

The architectural sculptures are refined interpretations of real-world locations, designed as if reimagined in a dream. “The images I create are a simple extension of the desire to see fantastic spaces come to life that echoes a more modern and clean aesthetic,” he explains. Inspired by the architectural world around him, each render usually begins with a sketch of a space either inspired by a familiar building in Cape Town, or from renowned modern architecture. “It could be the muted tones of an Aldo Rossi drawing, concrete colliding with plaster from a David Chipperfield interior or a grid from a Superstudio drawing stretching on into infinity.” Alexis tells us. “Inspiration comes from many sources but I always try to create a space that interests me in form and material, but most importantly in the use of light.”

Architectural contours slither out of sight while looming passageways and infinite stairways lead to the unknown — prompting the viewer to question the narrative beyond the screen. Alexis characterizes each setting with a deliberate lack of human presence, creating a serene yet arguably eerie ambience. He explains this design decision, stating, “My scenes are always void of any human beings. I prefer the viewer to imagine how they would exist in the space, sometimes leaving a small clue as to a past presence but never leading you down any specific narrative. I’d prefer if you go explore by yourself.”