Charis Tsevis - My Art for Politics

Kamala Harris for the People

You can download a super high resolution version (20000 x 25000 pixels) of this mosaic from my Flickr.
This artwork is based on a Kamala Harris photo by an unknown to me photographer. The photo is under a Public Domain license.
My artwork is licensed under the Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 license. You are free to share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format but not in commercial use. You should also credit me. Please don't use it for hate or anything negative.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.
Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
— Martin Luther King Jr.

Though speaking disparagingly of politicians and politics has become fashionable, I couldn’t disagree more.
To me, politics is the highest expression of art. As Aristotle described, humans are inherently political beings; we are social creatures who find strength in unity and purpose within communities. Politics is the framework through which our societies have been structured, endured, and flourished across centuries. Without it, humanity would not have risen to shape the world as we know it.

To me, a politician, as a professional, is a respectable citizen and someone capable of positively influencing or, in some cases, damaging a situation. Although there are many negative politicians, I’m more interested in highlighting those who have a positive impact and deserve support rather than fighting those I disagree with. Healthy opposition has its place, but progress comes from constructive positions.

Abraham Lincoln and the 100 most significant Americans of all time

Nelson Mandela. South African anti-apartheid activist and politician

Over time, I have chosen to focus on the leaders or activists of each era who, in my view, contribute something positive. I stopped identifying strictly with any particular ideology. Growing up in the ‘80s and ‘90s, I was fortunate to read widely on various political theories. At fourteen, I was drawn to Mikhail Bakunin’s and Errico Malatesta’s anarchism; by sixteen, I was exploring the liberalism of David D. Friedman and Guy Sorman. I also studied a range of ideologies, from Marxism and Trotskyism to Mussolini’s beliefs.

While studying in Milan in the ‘90s, I often wondered who I would have supported had I lived in the 1920s, not knowing then what we know now. Would I have followed the Futurists, whom I admire as an artistic and political movement? And if so, which ones? Those inspired by the Bolsheviks, or those who aligned themselves with Mussolini? History suggests that supporting the waning centrist-liberal parties of the era might have been wiser, as it could have helped prevent the divisiveness that led to Mussolini’s rise. Should I have supported Gramsci and the communists or followed F.T.Marinetti or U.Boccioni into fascism? Today, I think backing figures like Giacomo Matteotti or Ivano Bonomi, who ultimately could not stabilize Italy, might have been the best choice in such a turbulent time.

Barack Obama: Hope over fear, 2008

Barack Obama: Hopeful because of you, 2012

Through the years, I have witnessed ideologies rise and fall, defined by human and societal limitations. I saw the Berlin Wall collapse, even as some resisted the reality, and then, in 2008, I watched the “wall” of neo-liberalism crumble as well. The market did not self-regulate as expected, and just as many communists failed to see the truth of their ideology’s shortcomings, so did liberals or libertarians. Both ideologies have drifted into authoritarian tendencies. I’ve seen communists supposedly dedicated to the working class serving Russian oligarchs, just as so-called libertarians do the same. The tragedy on both sides is watching people who claim to defend freedom veer into various forms of prejudice against ethnic, sexual, and social minorities.

The conclusion is simple: when we label ourselves, be it liberal, democrat, or socialist, we often stop seeing clearly. We aim to confirm the label rather than examine the truth. Especially today, as echo chambers shape our perspectives, I see people more interested in affirmation than understanding. They aren’t just rigid in their opinions; they craft their own version of facts.

Hillary Clinton. American politician and diplomat. 2016

Donald Trump. American Politician Portrait 2021

Joe Biden 2020

Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Ukrainian Politician Portrait 2022
Designers for Peace by Graphis. Platinum Award winner poster competition

Ὁδὸς ἄνω κάτω μία καὶ ὡυτή.
The way up and the way down are one and the same.
— Heraclitus

To me, politics resembles nature, with opposing forces in constant dynamic balance. One force cannot exist without the other, just as there is no day without night, nor cold without heat. Societies, too, need both progress and preservation. Each has its time, and balance is essential.

I have come to believe I am obliged, both to myself and those around me, to participate, to consider the facts and make choices—positive choices whenever possible. Instead of focusing on what is wrong, I aim to determine who is best, or perhaps least harmful. Every step toward positivity can spark a virtuous cycle.

The most important lesson is that my choices will undoubtedly include mistakes. If we make decisions, it’s certain that some will prove wrong. Each outcome is the true measure, and it’s crucial to recognize when I’ve made an error, whether small or significant. This has happened, and it will happen again. But it’s pointless to deny mistakes or avoid choosing out of fear of being wrong.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Greek Politician Portrait 2023

Dimitris Kairidis. Greek Politician Portrait 2023

Adonis Georgiadis. Greek Politician Portrait 2019

Τὸ δέ τῷ μὴ ἐθέλειν ἀσχολεῖσθαι τὰ κοινὰ τοῦτο τίσις, ὅτι ὑπὸ φαύλων ἄρχεσθαι.
One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.
— Plato

If casting a vote and choosing a political stance is challenging, selecting the figures I illustrate is just as complex. There are easier choices, like Nelson Mandela, but often the choices are more difficult and rarely absolute. Sometimes, I’ve created portraits of political figures for clients, such as a commission for The Hollywood Reporter to create a caricature of Donald Trump, whom I view as a symbol of what is wrong with contemporary politics. While the article was critical, I tried to approach his image with humor, reflecting the absurdity but avoiding hate.

My aim is to capture aspects of each leader’s personality, pieces of their identity, history, and work. The mosaic visual language is particularly suited to this. People are multifaceted, made up of countless “tiles” that define them. I find it fascinating to gather and arrange these pieces to create a positive image.

Throughout the years, I have been fortunate to see my work resonate with audiences. I recall my mosaics becoming central to grassroots movements like MoveOn or Democrats Abroad during Obama’s 2008 and 2012 campaigns. In 2020, I supported Mayor Pete Buttigieg, whom I consider one of the most promising political talents of our time. Pete has engaged deeply with the core of politics, advocating for structural reforms to make the U.S. political system functional. From Supreme Court reforms to Senate restructuring and other ideas to improve candidate selection, he has shown practical competence when put to the test.

In Cyprus, where I’ve lived for the past eight years, I had the honor of working with a young politician, Konstantinos Letymbiotis, whom I met online during the 2020 pandemic. We collaborated on his campaign for the 2021 parliamentary elections. We lost by seventy votes, but often, failure brings insight and even opportunity. Konstantinos went on to serve as government spokesperson for Nikos Christodoulides's presidency, a challenging role that provides an opportunity to communicate the government’s work to Cypriots and the world. For me, that’s what counts: the work.

Nikos Christodoulides. 8th President of Cyprus

Konstantinos Letymbiotis. Cypriot Politician Portrait 2020

Do what you feel in your heart to be right—for you’ll be criticized anyway.
— Eleanor Roosevelt

My latest piece is a portrait of Kamala Harris. As I write this, I don’t know if she will be the next U.S. president, but I hope so. Not because her opponent embodies negativity and narcissism, but for all the positive reasons. The United States is a superpower, but it’s also a political and social experiment that embodies nature’s diversity and wisdom. It’s a colorful nation and a land where restless people see promise. A place where different ethnicities, religions, and perspectives find common ground and mission. It’s a nation that celebrates its contrasts.

Of course, the U.S. isn’t paradise, nor is it a superpower with only bright chapters in its history. But, as we’ve discussed, life requires choices, and in politics, these choices are rarely between ideal options. The United States is my positive choice in the modern world—not because it’s perfect, but because it’s the best option available. Kamala Harris embodies this as well, and history will tell her story.

In any case, politics remains the highest form of art, as it attempts to create the most intricate mosaic: that of society. Politicians are artists, scientists, managers, and public servants—they are people. And that, for me, is the most captivating aspect. I hope my art sheds light on some of their facets, capturing a few of their mosaic tiles.

We have become not a melting pot but a beautiful mosaic.
Different people, different beliefs, different yearnings, different dreams.
— Jimmy Carter

Charis Tsevis, November 1. 2024