Sotiris Kontogiannis, known artistically as SOBER5083R, is a self-taught visual artist living and working in Athens. Coming from the world of engineering and design, his path toward painting evolved gradually — but inevitably — as an exploration of inner worlds and form. His studies in Electronic Engineering at the Hellenic Mediterranean University deeply shaped him, influencing both the geometry and the philosophy behind his work. Seeking a mode of expression that was purer and quieter, he turned to painting as a personal necessity — a medium for introspection. “The need to create was always inside me,” he says, “something that never stopped fascinating me.”
Black as Form
SOBER5083R’s work is deeply formalist, existing outside the realm of narrative. He doesn’t tell stories — he builds structures. Structures that are almost existential, inviting the viewer to pause, observe, and feel. His central tool: Black on a white canvas. A deliberate choice that functions more as a code than an aesthetic preference. “Black is the absolute sum, but also the absolute void. It is the 1, and White is the 0. You could say it’s my ‘signature.’”
From White Noise to the Philosophy of the Infinite
His creative process is often accompanied by sounds such as white noise or heavier musical forms like Djent and Deathcore, which feed the internal rhythm and strict structure of his work. But his influences extend far beyond sound. Music, architecture, sculpture, and cinema are key fields of inspiration, while philosophy and psychoanalysis serve as the foundations of his conceptual world.
As he explains, every piece begins with a new catalyst: the relationship between the human being and the self, society, the universe. The outcome is always open to subjectivity. “I’m very interested in hearing what others see in my work. I think that’s why I’m drawn to abstraction — it can’t be fully defined, and each person experiences it differently.”
The Shiver of Cosmic Loneliness
SOBER5083R’s aim is simple yet profound: to create a shiver. Not one born of spectacle, but of a quiet awareness of existential mystery. “If someone feels that silent, existential shiver — that sense that we are simultaneously insignificant and immense within the universe — then I feel I’ve achieved my goal.”
Five Pillars of Inspiration
Among the most defining influences on his work are: Meshuggah, Dream Theater, Tesseract — not merely bands, but what he describes as “philosophical milestones.” Kazimir Malevich — a foundational figure of abstract geometric art, who became a compass for SOBER5083R’s visual language. Ryoji Ikeda — the contemporary media artist who transforms data into art in a mesmerizing way. “He fascinates me,” he says.
SOBER5083R continues to explore structure, void, and human existence, building a strict yet emotionally charged artistic universe — one where Black is not darkness; it is clarity.
Photography by Dimitris Vasileiou.
You can follow him on Instagram to explore more of his work, or visit his website directly.
