Throne room

The Throne Room installation draws on the grandeur and symbolism of ancient spaces of authority, where kingship bridged the earthly and divine. Through the reinterpretation of certain objects, the installation invites a dialogue between antiquity and the present. 
Each piece is crafted from industrial materials—steel, stainless steel, and copper—transformed into golden forms. Gold, historically a symbol of wealth, power, and divine favor, becomes the central motif. Yet, the gilding in this work is a deliberate illusion: surface treatments mimic the brilliance of true gold, inviting viewers to question the nature of value and authenticity.
Throne Room bridges the sacred with the ironic. It honors traditions of craftsmanship and beauty while provoking reflection on what and who we choose to elevate in our world. Through these pretend-to-be-gold objects, the installation asks: Are the symbols of power and admiration we hold today genuine, or are they merely gilded illusions?
The installation will be presented for the first time at Alcova Milano 2025.

Theo Galliakis (b. Crete, Greece – 1994) is an architect and designer, currently working between Greece and France.
Galliakis holds a Master's degree in Architecture from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and a second Master's degree in Geo-Design from Design Academy Eindhoven.
His work spans from objects and furniture to spaces and installations. Galliakis's practice is conceptually driven, exploring concepts of spirituality, material transformation, and simplicity.