Steve Zafeiriou
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Steve Zafeiriou | |
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| Born | Stefanos D. Zafeiriou January 31, 1998 |
| Nationality | Greek |
Notable work | Sensorify, Choice, GeoVision |
| Movement | New Media |
| Website | https://stevezafeiriou.com |
Steve Zafeiriou (born January 31, 1998) is a Greek new media artist and technologist. He founded Saphire Labs.[1], a research and development studio focusing on the investigation of media art and interactive technologies.
His work integrates emerging technologies with contemporary art practices to explore themes such as perception, authorship, and the relationship between human experience and machine systems.
His installation art and generative art have been exhibited at various institutions, including the MOMus Museum of Contemporary Art[2][3] in Thessaloniki and the Saatchi Gallery[4][5] in London.
Early Life and Education
Zafeiriou was born in Thessaloniki, Greece.
His early academic pursuits reflected a combination of interests in scientific and artistic disciplines, a convergence that is exemplified by his participation in the national selection phase of the 26th European Union Contest for Young Scientists (EUCYS) in 2014, where he proposed a project entitled “Research and implementation of an automated ultrasound system for monitoring and recording plant growth.
Artistic Practice
Zafeiriou’s artistic practice primarily explores the concept of the “The Illusory Perception of Reality”.
His work employs real-time data, audience input, and autonomous technologies to develop interactive installations.
By utilizing generative algorithms, microcontroller-based systems (such as ESP32 and Arduino), and sensor-driven interfaces, his installations incorporate principles derived from electronic engineering and media theory.
This approach facilitates an analytical examination of how digital technologies mediate perception and interpretation.
Notable Artworks
Sensorify (2023)
Sensorify is an interactive installation developed in 2023 during Zafeiriou’s participation in the Inspire Project at the MOMus Museum of Contemporary Art in Thessaloniki.
Within an exhibition framework examining future scenarios and mediated communication, the installation employs electroencephalography (EEG) to record neural activity, which is subsequently visualized in real time.
Visual representations are rendered as point clouds generated via photogrammetry and processed using software applications such as TouchDesigner, Three.js, and React.
The initial version featured a physical interaction controller; a later iteration incorporated machine vision and facial expression analysis. Sensorify was exhibited at MOMus Contemporary as part of the Inspire Project 2023,[2] and subsequently at the Mataroa Awards 2024, where Zafeiriou was a selected finalist at the Art Thessaloniki International Contemporary Art Fair.[6]
Choice (2024)
Choice is an interactive sculpture and installation introduced in 2024 at the British Art Fair[5] held at the Saatchi Gallery in London[4].
The work employs a gyroscope sensor (MPU6050), a microcontroller (ESP32-S3), and WebSocket-based communication to register and interpret audience interactions, thereby modulating generative visual and structural outcomes.
Informed by principles of participatory design and evolutionary theory, the work also proposes an element of decentralized governance that is currently under development.
Accessibility provisions, such as planned haptic feedback, are incorporated as part of its design.
GeoVision (2024)
GeoVision is an interactive installation and participatory platform developed in 2024.
The project examines how geographic, personal, and historical contexts influence interpretive processes, serving as a dynamic archive.
GeoVision integrates a web-based interactive mapping application, a real-time generative art display, and a physical data sculpture.
Drawing on principles of cultural evolution and adaptation,[7] GeoVision examines how geographic, personal, and historical contexts inform interpretive processes.
The project functions as a dynamic archive, enabling responses to evolve over time through variation, feedback, and continuity.
The installation integrates multiple components, including:
- A web-based interactive map application
- A real-time generative art display
- A physical data sculpture
Together, these elements respond to participant engagement via input such as geolocation, thematic selection, and sensor-triggered interaction. These behavioral inputs are translated into evolving visual outputs.
The system architecture incorporates a microcontroller (ESP32-S3), gyroscope sensor (MPU6050), tactile vibration feedback, and a TFT display, in communication with a Node.js backend and a React-based interface.
Generative content is rendered using TouchDesigner, while spatial interaction is facilitated via Leaflet Maps.
Selected Exhibitions
- 2025 – Epistrophe, the Return (Inspire Project 2025), MOMus Museum of Contemporary Art,[3] Thessaloniki, GR
- 2025 – MATAROA Awards,[8] Art Thessaloniki Contemporary Fair, GR
- 2024 – Pivotal: Digitalism, British Art Fair, Saatchi Gallery,[4] London, UK
- 2023 – Tension (Inspire Project 2023'), MOMus Museum of Contemporary Art,[2] Thessaloniki, GR
- 2023 – Art on Loop, The Holy Art Gallery, London, UK & Athens, GR
- 2023 – Art as Response to Mental Health, Doncaster Art Fair, UK
Research and Innovation
Zafeiriou’s projects are characterized by an investigatory approach to the integration of technology and art.
His self-initiated projects include:
- Sensit – An exploration of biometric and haptic integration within interactive wearable art.
- GeoVision – Understanding cultural interpretation through an adaptive installation framework.
- Choice – Behavioural analysis through art-based interaction: An interactive installation framework for studying human response dynamics.
- ESP32 Platform for Generative Art – Design and implementation of a sensor-driven, autonomous system for generative art creation using an ESP32 microcontroller.
Awards and Recognition
- 2023 – People’s Choice Award, Doncaster Art Fair, United Kingdom[9]
Publications and Press
Zafeiriou’s work has been subject to discussion in various cultural and art publications.
- Inspire Project 2025 is documented on the MOMus website[3] and has been covered by various media sources such as ERT News[10], voria.gr[11], elculture.gr[12] and City Portal[13]
- Thessalonikeon Polis, Cultural Society (2023, Print Issue 85).[14]
- Inspire Project 2023 was featured in the official MOMus exhibition catalogue, documented in the Greek national art repository ArtData, and covered by ERT News,[15] Athens Voice,[16] the Millennium Project,[17] RIS3 Regional Innovation Platform,[18] and the Greek Ministry of Culture’s Festival portal.[19]
- The Art Newspaper Greece featured Zafeiriou in Monday Report 14 (2021).
- Parallaxi Magazine featured Zafeiriou in featured section (2021).
References
- ↑ "General Commercial Register (G.E.MI.)". publicity.businessportal.gr. Retrieved 2025-04-12.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "INSPIRE PROJECT 2023: "Tension. Future scenarios and other stories"". MOMus - Metropolitan Organisation of Museums of Visual Arts of Thessaloniki. Retrieved 2025-03-31.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "INSPIRE PROJECT 2025: THE RETURN". MOMus - Metropolitan Organisation of Museums of Visual Arts of Thessaloniki (in Ελληνικά). Retrieved 2025-04-09.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "BRITISH ART FAIR 2024 - Saatchi Gallery". Saatchi Gallery. 2024-08-21. Retrieved 2025-03-31.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Kei London – British Art Fair Exhibitor Profile". British Art Fair. Retrieved 2025-03-31.
- ↑ "YOUNG ARTISTS AWARDS 2024". Art Thessaloniki International Contemporary Art Fair. 2024-02-18. Retrieved 2025-04-03.
- ↑ Yasseri, Taha; Gildersleve, Patrick; David, Lea (2022). "Collective memory in the digital age". Collective Memory. Progress in Brain Research. Vol. 274. pp. 203–226. arXiv:2207.01042. doi:10.1016/bs.pbr.2022.07.001. ISBN 978-0-323-99001-1. PMID 36167450.
- ↑ "MATAROA Awards 2025 | Update". MATAROA Awards. Retrieved 2025-03-31.
- ↑ Doncaster Art Fair (2023-06-20). ART AS A RESPONSE TO MENTAL HEALTH 2023 - THE RESULTS. Retrieved 2025-04-12 – via YouTube.
- ↑ Καλτσίδη, Μαρία (2025-04-09). "Το Inspire Project 2025 αναδεικνύει την «Επιστροφή» στο MOMus-Μουσείο Σύγχρονης Τέχνης". Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation (ERT) (in Ελληνικά). Retrieved 2025-04-12.
- ↑ "Θεσσαλονίκη: Η Επιστροφή είναι το βασικό θέμα του Inspire Project 2025 στο MOMus-Μουσείο Σύγχρονης Τέχνης". Voria.gr (in Ελληνικά).
- ↑ "Inspire Project 2025: Έργα του Νίκου Χαραλαμπίδη και 20 ακόμη καλλιτεχνών στο MOMus-Μουσείο Σύγχρονης Τέχνης με θέμα την «Επιστροφή»". elculture.gr (in Ελληνικά).
- ↑ "Inspire Project 2025: Επιστροφή | MOMus-Μουσείο Σύγχρονης Τέχνης". cityportal.gr (in Ελληνικά).
- ↑ ""Τεύχος 85 | Θεσσαλονικέων Πόλις | Περιοδική Έκδοση"". Cultural Society (in Ελληνικά). Σταύρος Ανδρεάδης. 2023-10-02. ISSN 1108-5452. Retrieved 2025-03-31.
- ↑ Κουσιοπούλου, Εύα (2023-04-05). "INSPIRE PROJECT 2023 «Ένταση. Σενάρια μέλλοντος και άλλες ιστορίες» στο MOMus-Μουσείο Σύγχρονης Τέχνης". ERT News (in Ελληνικά). Hellenic Broadcasting Corporation (ERT). Retrieved 2025-03-31.
- ↑ "Inspire Project 2023: Σενάρια μέλλοντος και άλλες ιστορίες στη Θεσσαλονίκη". AthensVoice (in Ελληνικά). 2023-07-30. Retrieved 2025-03-31.
- ↑ Berardo, Mara Di (2023-04-06). "INSPIRE Project Art Exhibition on Futures Scenarios - April, 7/June, 30, 2023". The Millennium Project. Retrieved 2025-03-31.
- ↑ Eleni (2023-04-06). "INSPIRE PROJECT 2023". One Stop Liaison Office (in Ελληνικά). RIS3 Regional Innovation Strategy of Central Macedonia. Retrieved 2025-03-31.
- ↑ "Inspire Project 2023 @Momus contemporary – festival.culture.gr". festival.culture.gr (in Ελληνικά). Ministry of Culture and Sports (Greece). Retrieved 2025-04-01.
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