In contrast to Defterios’ more forceful “explosion” paintings, Over Fading Ground shifts into a quieter, more atmospheric register. A muted, weathered surface washes across the upper field, its subtle marks recalling ancient wall pigment, eroded stone, and the slow passage of time. When considered alongside his more energetic compositions, the work reads almost as an aftermath, what remains once the burst has settled. The earthy lower portion acts as a horizon of stillness, giving the textured veil above room to breathe and expand. Rather than depicting a moment of eruption, the painting reveals its residue: surface as memory. Here, Defterios’s ongoing dialogue with Greek landscapes and material histories becomes palpable. What first appears minimal gradually unfolds into a richly layered terrain of ghosted forms and shifting tonal variations.

From the artist