E.Markou |
E.Markou |
On Tuesday, 9 th of January 2007 , in the art space of « ASTROLAVOS » dexameni (Xanthippou 11, Kolonaki, tel: 210 7294 342, 3, fax: 210 7293317, www.astrolavos.gr) opens a double exhibition of Emmanuela Markou and Aspasia Tsoutsoura entitled: 'Bitter or Sweet, What's the taste of Art?'
These two artists through their work co-discuss several relations between man and his ability to approach different notions: like him / her and the social environment, the relationship between the two sexes but also some everyday situations. All the above could be the reasons why these two artists are interested in expressing the 'taste' life has or could have for people.
The works of the specific exhibition-like sentimental shades- reflect two different 'sides'/ ways of viewing life. One is the sweet, romantic side in the works, installations by Aspasia Tsoutsoura and the wilder/ scarier side in the painting works of Emmanuela Markou. Let us examine thoroughly the how and the why.
Emmanuela Markou considers painting to be introspection. Her feelings transform into thoughts and afterwards into pictures; a procedure that has a double character. First, it works almost psychoanalytically for the person-artist, for through it situations and obsessions de-charge. And secondly, it creates a dialogue procedure with the visitor, who can very often have same quests or problems. The visitor, being involved in an artistic depiction of all these situations, could feel relief, psychic uplift or even the maintenance of a critical position against the creators view.
But what are the themes which 'move' the artist in order to color or discolor accordingly? Love, solitude, acceptance, mental disability, motherhood, phobias, role imposition, children's experiences, time, are only some of them.
Her works are mainly oils of large dimensions in expressionistic style. Sometimes in vivid colors other times in shades of black and white; in 2 or 3 dimensional attribution of space and figures, expressing a world viewed through the eyes and mainly through the psychological shades which this world sends out. The atmosphere in her works alters from extra joyful to suffocating, from fantastic to realistic. To conclude, even though Markous'works leave the visitor with a bitter-sweet sense of 'BITTER', they bring out a light and penetrating humor which is a drop of optimism in the cruelty of the modern world.
On the other hand, Aspasia Tsoutsoura is more interested in highlighting amongst her works a different prospective of the world and of human relations which has as a base the way children view the world that surrounds them. Purity, innocence, romanticism, a dream becomes fairytale and that fairytale is transmitted to life through thought.
The above are the main axes which animate the second personal exhibition.
The works that Tsoutsoura exhibits are mainly three dimensional installations. The used materials and colors are symbolic and serve the above concept.
Whites and pinks dominate; white representing purity, calmness, eternity and beautiful, peaceful feelings (white are clouds, lilies and bridal dresses), while pink refers to something sweet and childlike. The artist chooses her materials on the basis of what these materials express for her, the sense which these materials bring out through their textures, shapes, their properties and their characteristics. She uses fur (its soft, referring to something warm), lace (referring to something romantic and sensitive), voile (linking it to honesty due to its transparency), polyester/ cotton (reminding us the clouds, the dreams, the eternity), sugar (something sweet, lollipop, childhood), beads (round and playful), threads (handicraft, referring to the female substance), wire.
Concluding, important role in A.Tsoutsouras work occupies the sphere/ circle being the perfect form; the shape of completion and precision which through a child's eyes could be transformed into a shelter, a warm nest, a hug.
Duration of exhibition: Saturday 27 th of January 2007
Opening hours: Tue-Fr: 10.30-14.00 & 18.00-21.00, Sat: 10.30-14.30
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