This next exhibition is very special to me because it involves the work of five dear friends of mine. Chrysa Chatzikonstantinidou, Evangelie Dimitriou, Myrto Prokopiou, Kyriaki Panagi and Maro Vasiliadou were my classmates at Anastasia Kandaraki’s Anamma Seminars of Contemporary Jewellery for almost three years now and I’m very proud to present their last year’s project.
Eleni Marneri Gallery is right next to the Acropolis Metro station in Athens. If you walk around, you may come by Porinou street, where a couple of cute bars and restaurants are situated.
Myrto Prokopiou is the youngest of the group. She just finished her studies in architectures and lives on the beautiful island of Lesvos. Yet she never failed to fly to Athens for our lessons. She was inspired by the Aegean volcanic arc, the gathering of volcanoes around several of the Aegean islands (e.g. Methana, Aigina, Milos, Santorini, etc.). Myrto was interested in the way the volcanic eruptions have transformed the landscape throughout the centuries, so she simulated these mysterious rock formations by using foam and her own body.
Evangelie Dimitriou is a very sweet woman but hides a very strong passion inside her. Her work was inspired by the element of water. “We come to life surrounded by water, we live on earth surrounded by the seas. Sweat, tears, rain, snow, memories of life and death. Inspiration is always thirsty”.
Maro Vasiliadou has been struggling with several problems with her hands and eyes in the last two years so it may not be a coincidence that she chose the subject of religious vows (in Greek ‘tamata’) for her pieces. Such ‘tamata’ are very popular among the religious and (very) superstitious Greek people. One asks for a favor from a saint and vow (they make a ‘tama’) to pay the saint back (in silver/gold) if their wish is granted.
Chrysa Chatzikonstantinidou is the quiet, visual poet of the group. She makes minimalist, discreet and yet very strong statements through her pieces. She chose to explore the haiku poems of famous Greek poets and to investigate the “deeper, internal dialogue between the poem and the jewel.”
Kiriaki Panagi used her children’s paintings as a starting point and discovered the little girl that was hiding inside her in the process. She went on a journey of self-discovery, went back to childhood fantasies and memories of light and darkness to come through to the other side of life, which is full of joy and color.
This has been a very personal project and a very emotional year for all of us at Anamma Seminars and I’d like to congratulate all ‘my girls’ Chrysa, Evangelie, Myrto, Kyriaki and Maro and of course our wonderful teacher Anastasia Kandaraki for this amazing exhibition. I loved being there with all of you (almost till the very end 😉 ) and I am proud of your work and of what you’ve accomplished.
A big hug and BRAVO to all of you 🙂
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