With the first major thematic exhibition in Greece by the renowned Greek-American artist Costas Picadas, opening on Monday, May 19, Henry Dunant Hospital Center seeks not only to bring art closer to health, but also to leave its own mark on a significant artistic event, opening a special new chapter in its course.
The exhibition of the Phytobiosomes collection by the influential Costas Picadas—one of the key innovators of the New York art scene—consists of works unique in the history of art, of special inspiration and original execution, which harmoniously connect nature, human beings, and the interior of a regenerating organism. This magical world, which approaches medical science with sensitivity and insight, will transform the reception areas of Henry Dunant into a blossoming gallery until the end of September, presenting a new and original image to every patient and visitor.
The works of Costas Picadas focus on vital organs such as the heart, lungs, and brain, and present the healing methods of nature itself. The artist’s realism and poetic sensibility highlight a new perspective on anatomy and the pathways of healing. In Costas Picadas’ images, the decomposition of organs reveals plants whose medicinal value has been known since antiquity. This natural process of recycling is represented through a combination of disembodied organs and plants. In this unique way, Costas Picadas proposes his own artistic interpretation of the healing power of nature, creating an unprecedented visual and intellectual experience.
Henry Dunant was chosen by the artist himself as the most appropriate space to host and showcase the large collection (24 works and two special video-art creations), which has already been presented in the United States. A central role in organizing the exhibition is held by publisher Nikos Komn. Chatzigeorgiou (Hellenic Facsimile Editions), while the curation is undertaken by Professor Thalia Vrachopoulos, distinguished Professor of Visual Arts at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, New York. The opening event will take place on Monday, May 19, at 8:00 p.m. in the Amphitheater of Henry Dunant Hospital Center. The works of the Phytobiosomes collection will remain on display, with free admission to the public, in the hospital’s reception areas until September 30, 2025.
On the occasion of this important exhibition, Themos Charamis, Executive Chairman of the Imithea Group (Henry Dunant Hospital Center), stated: "It is not the first time that science, medicine, and art come together at Henry Dunant. However, with the thematic exhibition of the Phytobiosomes collection by Costas Picadas—who, with sensitivity and originality, transforms realism into poetry—Henry Dunant is effecting a paradigm shift in how a hospital functions and contributes to society." And for this new paradigm, we are proud."
Costas Picadas’ artistic journey
Costas Picadas was born in Ioannina. He studied Fine Arts at the École des Beaux-Arts and History of Art at the Louvre School in Paris. He has participated in more than 90 exhibitions internationally. Since 1994 he has lived and worked in New York, seeking to unite art with science. He specialized in artistic photography and video-art, focusing his interest more on bridging the relationship between Science and Art, particularly Science that concerns the human body and its vital biological functions, such as the cardiorespiratory, cytological and immune systems.
According to Costas Picadas, “We live in an era in which many people have distanced themselves from the natural environment and its beneficial properties that once helped regulate our nervous system. However, as soon we reconnect with nature, the symbiosis we develop with it returns to our memory and operates automatically.”
