Pavlos is what we would call “relentless” and for him the day has many more than 24 hours. Every day he expresses a new horizon of dreams and with humility, an interdisciplinary approach and “carpe diem” philosophy, he creates the most charming uranography that neither hides nor reveals; it means.
Seven times internationally awarded (first place in the World Fireworks Championship the consecutive years 2014 – 2016 in the Czech Republic, Belgium and Cincinnati respectively and first place in China and Germany four times), Pavlos Nanos makes the best fireworks in the world, is in the A- list of the best directors and producers of pyrotechnic shows and special effects in the world and is the first globally in pyromusic, the latest innovation of the pyrotechnic technology where the firework choreography, in every second of the explosion, is spatiotemporally defined and utterly synchronized to each musical phoneme.
His name is huge in historical terms.
1920 and Pavlos’ grandfather, Demetrios Bouboulis, great grandson of the legendary Bouboulina, will call in Spetses an Italian to teach him the art of fireworks so as to represent the sinking of the Turkish flagship in the island; the so-called feast of “Armata". In the same way Miaoulia event in Hydra will be established by the family. So, Pavlos’ grandfather brings the very first fireworks in Greece and builds the first fireworks plant in Galatsi that with the lapse of years evolved into the today's internationally recognized fireworks company "Nanos Fireworks".
Pavlos’ pyrotechnic choreography for Miaoulia, Hydra.
From their ancient roots in the cauldron of a Chinese cooker in the 7th century AD when fireworks were accidentally invented, to a dazzling spectacle in the most enigmatic prince, the sky, today. From Italy to the small daughter of the Saronic Gulf, Spetses. From girandoles to Armata. From the oldest fireworks show of the 15th century in the castle of Saint-Angelo in Rome to the 2004 Olympics in Athens. From his great-grandfather, Demetrios Bouboulis, with love to his grandfather, his father and now to him and his brother.
One of the youngest and most emblematic designers of fireworks performances in a global scale, in his 21 years, Pavlos becomes a major constituent factor of the fireworks opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic Games in 2004. Since then he articulates in every single project a mature version of the firework as an artistic creation while in every major, international and domestic, event that he designs (he has participated in major events such as Special Olympics 2011, TomorrowLand, AC / DC, Roger Waters, Tiesto, JLo concerts, Eurovision 2006, Mad Video Music Awards etc.) he explores, through his spectacular shows, how the beauty of the people is connected to the beauty of Art.
Pavlos is what we would call "relentless" and for him the day has many more than 24 hours. Every day he expresses a new horizon of dreams and with humility, an interdisciplinary approach and “carpe diem” philosophy, he creates the most charming uranography that neither hides nor reveals; it means.
Furthermore, each firework choreography that he synthesizes is a small celebration of Art, Philosophy, Social meanings, Mathematics, Semiotics and bodily movements that were depicted in the sky with harmony, order, logic, emotion, geometry, tenderness, symmetry in tensions and at the same time an unexpected switch.
He loves to philosophize about everything and his favorite life mantra is the Cartesian "Cogito Ergo Sum". Believing in the beauty of knowledge and the freedom of imagination, his aim is to make the thousands of spectators who attend him each time to immerse themselves in an emotional experience of the celestial beauty that is disturbed by fiery images.
Preparing the dazzling show in Ottawa, Canada, with his brother Filippos.
The Global Innovations
3,2,1. It is about 10 o’ clock in Czech Republic. Early summer, June 2014 in the beautiful lake of Brno. Under the sounds of "Black Black Heart" and other songs and important personalities’ speeches, Pavlos, through a magical fireworks theatrical performance, will pass his own message for the social crisis, the poverty, the war; he will motivate, mobilize to the dream and the purposeful change and ultimately he will lead his audience of 150,000 viewers to a “catharsis”, in terms of the ancient Greek tragedy. The use of shapes in this pyro allegory is impressive: a sad face turns into a smiling one, a firework for which Pavlos made a special order in a Spanish factory, a firework that was used for the first time in the history of pyrotechnics. 17 minutes and 3,000 fireworks later the Greek national anthem would be heard.
Pioneer in a global level, he inaugurates innovations such as the "pyrotechnic mapping" which allows him to design in the sky, with high accuracy, words, letters and shapes through 3D pyrotechnic pixels. Another signature novelty that he introduced was the very recent "Aerial Dance in Pyrotechnics" which opens up a new perceptual horizon for the firework and its uses. In the Aerial Pyro Dance fireworks enter an indoor space, meet another art, the aerial dance, and surprise the reality, exactly as art is supposed to do. In this way, with the perfect amount of effects and the perfect amount of dance, a new cultural code is framed; an innovation that was born in Greece and aspires to travel around the world. It is all about the kinesiological harmony of the body that dances and the mathematization of Art through the fireworks and special effects that, precisely spatiotemporally defined, come for the first time so close to a human body.
– Nietzsche used to say that the "art of creators" is of greater importance than the "art of creations", meaning that the activity of doing, the creation, and the thought behind this is more important than the artwork itself. What is Pavlos’ thought behind his art as a creator? What does inspire your own creative activity?
Nietzsche said that " There is one thing one has to have: either a soul that is cheerful by nature, or a soul made cheerful by work, love, art, and knowledge.” And I belong to the second category. And I do not mean the progress of "I" as it is dictated by the modern society of competition that has become the driving force of the modern world. I'm talking about the self-cultivation in all aspects of life that leads to the completion of a man's personality as an individual and collective subject.
– I think a section of our discussion should be devoted to Armata. A celebration through which your great grandfather, your grandfather, your father, and now you and your brother highlight the fireworks as a vehicle of cultural tourism. An experience and a medium, namely, that experientially stimulates the knowledge and produces culture while depicting the history and keeping it alive : Through an astonishing spectacle, a memorable way, the little child learns history, the young man outlines love horizons for his home country and the older one remembers the stories of his ancestors. Would you like to tell me a few words about Armata and this aspect of the fireworks as cultural goods?
A hidden aspect of the fireworks is that their story is intricately tied to the culture; from their use in ancient China to expel evil spirits, for evoking religious devoutness in Christian Rome to their application in theatrical performances and cultural events nowadays. The success of Armata relies both on its objectives and its means. It promotes the national spirit, reproduces a major historical event, advertises the island and entertains the guests. So, it serves cognitive, economic and psychological purposes at the same time. And it achieves them since each person involved gives all his forces for the organization of this special ceremony, without obstacles and restrictions. One of these people is me and with my own resources I contribute to this important for my home country event. Some years now Armata has been the most beautiful fireworks show that can be seen in our country; many people characterize it equal to the fireworks show ceremonies of the Olympic Games.
Pavlos’ pyrotechnic display for Armata, Spetses.
– I guess that the creation of the show is as impressive as the title of the word "fireworks" itself suggests. In a few words, could you describe the journey you follow till the final performance?
The creative conception and the masterful design are the most exciting parts of my job being equivalently stimulating even with the experience of the result. I am one of the few directors who do not use virtual simulation software for the design of the shows. The entire process takes place inside my head, and this grants me a great advantage since the imagination has no limits. At that moment I feel a "loss", an absorption that cuts off the communication with the outside world and I concentrate only on my subject. Having given birth to the ideas, the movements and the formations, I endeavor their mathematical order or, in other words, their optimization to achieve the maximum impact on the senses of my viewer, bearing in mind the data of the space and the resources that I have. Moreover I am not an artist but a mathematician who loves Art.
– From your role as a director of pyrotechnics, you enjoy the unique beauty of being able to make any space a potential theater. And when I say any space I really mean any space since the sky is everywhere. What I want to ask you is whether the place / destination plays role in the colors, types and combinations of fireworks that you use.
All the data are aggregated in the direction and composition of a pyrotechnic show. Some of them can change even during the performance such as the weather conditions, the direction and intensity of the wind, the humidity. This evaluation and exploitation of the environment and the conditions is essential for the aesthetic result as well as for the safety. There is where the proper study and the experience of the director and the pyrotechnician who will execute the show are pinpointed. So, before designing, I gather all the information about the place, the time and make speculations, research cases and primarily annihilate the danger in all possible scenarios. Thereafter I select the suitable materials that will be more efficient in the particular case. Here a special reckoning is needed; for example in bright conditions more ideal are the fireworks of high brightness but these products consume more oxygen during their combustion, thereby produce more smoke. In humidity and in still air conditions, the smoke might hide the entire show. In my work, thus, all the factors assume a role.
Easter on Kerkyra. Pavlos’ spectacular choreography to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus.
Finally, I would like to ask you about the happiest need, the dreams. Shall I suppose that yours are full of stars in a dark sky?
I would not say that I am a big advocate of dreams or of great expectations at least to the point that they prevent me from living the present. For sure I prepare myself for the future, but I cognize it as a reality in another time. So, as I said, I focus on learning, on evolving myself and on being perpetually reconstructed so that when the chance for a big project is given, something that will have wide appeal, something to which I can assign meaning through the senses, I will be able to be my best self. So, when I will manage to heighten the experience of my audience at a level that stimulates emotionally the deepest layers of their psyche, then I will have fulfilled my highest goal.
In every text you look for a small epilogue, a little verse to narrate the essence of the man about whom you talk. I will let Beatles recount Pavlos and the love for his art.
For more information about fireworks, fireworks for sale, fireworks prices, wedding fireworks and special effects (SFX):
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Alexia Charoupa has graduated from the Department of Communication, Media and Culture, of Panteion University (with a specialization in Marketing, PR and Communication). She is a Hospitality Storyteller on Travel Daily News and Hospitality Net. Furthermore she is Guest Experience Expert at The Cloud Keys. She has performed Concierge at The Romanos, A Luxury Collection Resort, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., Concierge d'hôtel at Katikies Hotel, Santorini, and Guest Relations Manager at Rocabella Santorini Hotel & SPA, Santorini.
Moreover, she is the Creator of "The Storytelling Hotel". With "The Storytelling Hotel”, Alexia represented Greece in the 3rd Annual European Thesis Competition of Edcom by EACA (European Association of Communication Agencies) after being nominated by the Greek Institute of Communication to do so and was given a place among the TOP 10 European Finalists.
"The Storytelling Hotel” was also awarded the Silver Tourism Award 2016- in the Section: Strategy & Innovation/ Award Category: 1.7 Research & Writing Work: ΤEMES (Costa Navarino) in cooperation with Alexia Charoupa, Bachelor Thesis, Panteion University.
In March 2017 she was distinguished with “The Storytelling Hotel” as Best Hotel Management Consultant (silver award) in the Greek Hospitality Awards 2017.
Her expertise lies in the branding narrative management of hotels, the experience economy as well as the creation of storytelling and "wow" factors in the field of hospitality. Cognizing hotels as narrative platforms, with any hospitality brand that she works, she tries to increase its uniqueness in terms of service innovation, accomplish personalized signature experiences and, last but not least, manage the emotional connection of the guest with the brand.
She is also a Stanford’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Professional Certificate student.
