KALFAYAN GALLERIES PRESENTS MOTHER TONGUE BY HARM GERDES

Mother Tongue is Harm Gerdes’ first solo exhibition in Greece, and it’s a raw exploration of how painting can speak directly to the soul. With vibrant, layered colors and dynamic, organic forms, Gerdes’ works are more than just abstract shapes — they’re the result of his lived experiences in Athens, where simplicity and urban chaos collide in his canvas. From a distance, the paintings may feel digital, but up close, they pulse with the tactile energy of paint.

For Gerdes, each piece is a journey, letting intuition lead the way rather than a set plan. His “archaeology of color” is deeply personal, influenced by everything from his daily life in Athens to his thoughts on human connection, power, and freedom. Drawing from artists like Elizabeth Murray and Gerhard Richter, Mother Tongue invites us to discover new meanings in each brushstroke, allowing us to read between the lines and feel the joy of finding something unexpected. It’s not about one fixed story — it’s about finding the space to simply experience.