Paul Tzanetopoulos

The Los Angeles International Airport light towers change colors throughout the night

Paul Tzanetopoulos (born in Athens, Greece), is a Greek-American inter-media artist known for his work with digital, video, and electronic mediums. Moving to Los Angeles over 25 years ago, Tzanetopoulos has become a prominent figure in the city's art scene. He first gained attention in 1974 when he presented a video installation and computer-driven inter-media piece at the Ruth Schaffner Gallery in Los Angeles. Since then, his work has continued to focus on social and ecological issues, often incorporating interactive elements.

Tzanetopoulos' art is part of various public and private collections, including the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). He has also exhibited internationally and collaborated with other artists. In late October 2004, he showcased a collaborative sound and light exhibition with Daniel Rothman at Weserburg, a museum of contemporary art in Bremen in northwestern Germany.

Works

Tzanetopoulos' art often revolves around the interaction between technology and society. His work spans different forms of media, including video, sound, and digital installations. In particular, his art highlights complex social themes, such as environmental concerns and diversity, while exploring the boundaries of light, motion, and interactivity.

One of his most well-known public commissions is the Kinetic Lighting Installation for the LAX Gateway Pylon Project in Los Angeles. This large-scale light display uses shifting colors to represent the city's cultural diversity.

e/MotioN

One of Tzanetopoulos’ notable pieces is e/MotioN (2004), a kinetic light painting created as part of West Hollywood’s Urban Art Program. e/MotioN features dynamic video projections on a large facade at a key intersection. Using vibrant colors, these projections form a constantly shifting light mural. An adjacent LED display updates hourly with real-time site images to enhance the overall visual. The artwork consists of three such projections that blend into an evolving montage, combining color, motion, and patterns to create a kinetic painting reflective of the surrounding area. Installed at the West Hollywood Gateway shopping center on the corner of La Brea Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard, this piece integrates six live camera feeds, projected onto a translucent building façade. The work combines real-time video, light, and movement to reflect the constant flow of life in the urban environment. The installation, a video projection triptych, transforms the façade into a living mural of changing light, color, and motion.

Which Green is Our Bush?

Premiering in 2004 at the Los Angeles Rectangle Gallery, *Which Green is Our Bush?* is a politically charged three-dimensional composition reflecting George W. Bush's stance on environmental and corporate issues. Using local broadcast television and video projections, Tzanetopoulos overlays images that critique the relative neglect of ecological imperatives. The installation blends visuals to create a dynamic commentary on contemporary concerns around environmental responsibility.