TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL ARFARAS...
MICHALIS ARFARAS
Born in Athens in 1954.
1975-1980 Studied at the State University College of Fine Arts, Braunschweig (Lower Saxony, Germany).
1980 Completed his studies with the title of Meisterschϋler.
1980 Lower Saxony Engraving Award.
1980-1983 Assistant Professor at the lithography, rotogravure and printing workshops of the same faculty.
1980-2006 Member of the German Association of Visual Artists and a member of the Lower Saxony Filmmakers Association.
1988 AICA European Award.
1988-2006 Professor of Special Courses at the Institute of Fine Arts and Science of Art at the Hildesheim University (Lower Saxony, Germany).
1990 Member of the “Engraving Center” Group.
2000 Film Fellowship by Lower Saxony’s Ministry of Science and Culture
1982/1986 Hanover Government’s Fellowship.
2001 Sparkassenstiftung Fellowship for creating and publishing lithographs at the Quensen Printing Company.
2006 Professor and Director of the “Printmaking Sector” at the Athens School of Fine Arts.
Since 1990 Michalis Arfaras has presented his work in solo exhibitions in galleries and museums in Europe and Greece. He has participated in all international engraving biennials and experimental film festivals.
The writing and editing of art books is his continuing avocation and experimentation, occupying a considerable part of his creation.
The movies
01. EINE GESCHICHTE UEBER MENSCHEN
Duration: 6’
Format: Film 16mm, optical sound
Script, Direction, Production: Michael Arfaras
Sound: Malte Preuβ, Andreas Hoppe, Michael Arfaras
Production Year: 1989
A symbolic representation of cannibalism lies within this animation, in which small and big, thick and thin fish are eating each other. This brief parable of the cruelty that characterizes human social relations is an animation film of shadow theater aesthetics.
02. KURZER FILM FUER LANGE STOTTERER 
Duration: 06’
Format: Film 16 mm, optical sound
Script, Direction, Production: Michael Arfaras
Sound: Frank Mazke, Michael Arfaras
Production Year: 1988
This is an experimental animation film dedicated to the Dadaist artist and poet Kurt Schwitters. The film rhythm follows the recitation of Schwitters’ poem «Kurzer Film fuer lange Stotterer» (A short Poem for Long Stutterers).
03. CITY LIFE GRAFITIS
Duration: 15’
Format: Film 16 mm, optical sound
Script, Direction, Production: Michael Arfaras
Sound: Saint Anne, Michael Arfaras
Production Year: 1986
A firework of images and sounds as reflections of urban life in the late 20th century. The work is an experimental editing of a multitude of technical and aesthetic expressions of animation.
04 ANIMATION HAS NO BORDERS
Duration: 04’
Format: Film 16 mm, optical sound
Script, Direction: Peter Sweenen
Production: Cilia van Dijk
Sound: De Volharding
Production Year: 1986
Thirty-six animators from 36 different countries worked together to illustrate the music of «INTERNATIONALE» with images designed directly to the film celluloid. This film project is an example of international artistic cooperation in an era, during which many borders were still inaccessible.
05 TRICKTYCHON Νο 4
Duration: 06’
Format: Digital Video
Script, Direction, Production: Michael Arfaras
Sound: Michael Arfaras
Production Year: 2004
Archaic sounds of Christian and Buddhist monasteries create the rhythmic basis of the animation’s choreography. The film is a tribute to the ritual dances of Bauhaus.
06 KOUKLOTOPOS
Duration: 15 ‘
Format: Digital Video
Script, Direction, Production: Michael Arfaras
Sound: Θόδωρος Βασιλειάδης, Michael Arfaras
Production Year: 2005
A torrent of images, sounds and colors is bursting from the film. Among them, a nightmarish shadow theater unfolds, the echo of the people’s anguish in big cities.
07 ΙKARUS NOVUS 
Duration: 15’
Format: Digital Video
Script, Direction, Production: Michael Arfaras
Sound: Θόδωρος Βασιλειάδης, Michael Arfaras
Production Year: 2006
Icarus, after a series of unsuccessful flights and painful falls, has lost most of its legendary status. With the help of bizarre machines and being almost insane, he is trying to accomplish one last flight. An expected further fall is the result.
