How and when does your journey in painting begin?

The Greek word for painting, “zografiki”, means to write or document life. Children use painting and other forms of art to express themselves from a very young age. Many, though, abandon this vehicle of self-expression as they grow up. I belong to those who continued to portray thoughts and feelings through shape and colour, hence painting connects me to life and helps me understand it.

What does art mean to you? 

For me, art is a breath of life. It is a way for humanity to communicate with, and get closer to the universe around us. Art is a means of sharing messages and ideas in order to create an impact. For many years art has also been used as a method of healing.

What would you say inspires you to create a new piece of art?

Everyday life and current news are probably the biggest influences for most of my work. The past however, either through personal memories or historical events, can also affect the course of my creative process. Now for instance, at a time of financial decline and a moral crisis, I look back to the philosopher Epicurus who maintained that happiness is a unique and personal matter and is related to one’s honesty, ethos and justice. He spoke of the respect one should have towards nature. At a time when we are forced to face the consequences of our actions these words now seem more relevant than ever. My current pieces reflect these ideals and principles.

Have you ever felt lost or disorientated, and how did you find your course again?

Although I cannot recall a time when life really threw me over, there have been transitional moments when I’ve had doubts and experimented more, but I would say that such times are natural and necessary for one’s personal and professional growth.

Would you say that conditions in Greece are favourable for artists at the moment?

Greece is a beautiful country with incredible light. Its nature is a truly valuable gift to the world of art. Unfortunately, though, circumstances are not always favourable for evolving and achieving domestic and international recognition. While other Mediterranean countries have traditionally bred artists and exported their art, Greece has not historically been as supportive to young professionals in the field who want to flourish and shine abroad. I must say however that we have recently seen a consistent effort from contemporary institutions to improve the situation.

Have you ever felt that being a woman has obstructed your way towards success?

Yes, being a woman has been and perhaps still is an obstacle to my evolvement as an artist. I remember being treated differently to men from the beginning of my career, by professors at the School of Fine Art in Athens and Paris. Collectors were later sceptical before investing in my art, as they presumed that I would have children and give up on my career, which would make my work invaluable. I believe different women find different ways to achieve respect in the field of fine art. If you ask me, a woman can give birth to art the way she gives birth to children, and one should not get in the way of the other. If something, one should feed into and inspire the other.

The pandemic outbreak has – no doubt – been challenging to all. How have these difficult times affected you, both personally and professionally?

Self-isolation is something I often do as an artist. It helps me concentrate. However, choosing to self-isolate is very different from mandatory quarantine. The first months of lockdown were truly suffocating and shocking to me. Up to then, controlling my own life seemed normal. COVID-19 proved that nothing in life is to be taken for granted, circumstances can change at any time. But I firmly believe that in times of darkness we should respond with light. At first, I held a mirror up to myself; I discovered things about me such as my need to be near my loved ones and the magical force that connects me to them. I then found myself experimenting with new materials such as clay. I would spend my nights sculpting creatures, human figures, flowers, birds; the whole studio was full of them. My work went off on a new tangent. I can’t yet tell when things will return to normal, and that definitely worries me. However, I hope that post-COVID-19 we will learn to communicate, to value our relationships, respect nature, and appreciate our every moment on this planet.

A piece of advice that you wish to share with our readers? 

My advice is to never let anyone prevent you from materialising your dreams. Women are strong, creative, imaginative and have immense amounts of energy. We can prove this with anything and everything we aim to achieve.