August 2021 - No. 3
Our Right to Art
A conversation with Nina Morari, an artist based in Limassol, Cyprus
After unfulfilling jobs in graphic design, Morari found new creative ways to express herself, namely through the practice of one line art, the technique of creating an image with one single line. She uses this technique throughout her paintings, prints, and pottery. We chatted with her about her artistry and goals, and we hope you admire her positive energy as much as we do!
Please describe your artistic taste and style.
My style is natural, pure, and romantic. I like to keep my work simple and abstract to bring a sense of serenity to the world, and remind people of the innate beauty and purity of life that we sometimes forget about.
Nina Morari
What do you find alluring about one line art?
I love the detailed information my audience can receive from one pure line. I find it fascinating that I can illustrate such intense emotion and movement with one brush stroke. I use a lot of patterns in my work as well, specifically with the faces I draw. I like to position a sequence of faces together to create an energetic conversation and show the interconnected bond we have with one another.
What are some of the challenges of experimenting with one line art?
The simplicity of one line art is also its greatest challenge! Any slight change can reshape the entire composition. How does adding this shape here or increasing the weight of one curve there alter the emotion of the painting? This is also why I like to experiment with repetition, to see how the emotion of the work shifts with each new addition or subtraction.
Prints with Morari’s signature face motif
How do you want to evolve your one line art creations?
Now that I’m more comfortable with my artistic aesthetic, I want to find new ways to communicate my perspectives through different mediums. I recently started playing with pottery and ceramics and now I’m planning to release a series of clayworks for purchase. I want to provide people opportunities to have unique art in their homes, and I think my pottery and prints can accomplish that.
A sneak peek into Morari’s upcoming pottery series
You recently wrapped up your first group exhibit in Cyprus for the “Lush Art in Difficult Times” show at isnotgallery in Nicosia. How was that experience for you?
It left me inspired! I showed my collection “Lines Gone Bad,” a twist to my usual single lines. I played with more abstract and energetic colors, textures, and shapes and loved the outcome. It was great discussing my work, and the work of other artists, at the gallery.
There is so much talent here in Cyprus, but the market is quite small, making it difficult for us to flourish. isnotgallery is one of the few spaces on the island that upholds incredible integrity and discretion with the artists they feature. They create a nurturing environment for us.
“Lines Gone Bad” at isnotgallery in Nicosia
What is one of the greatest advantages you have working in Cyprus?
Being close to my family and friends provides me with a secure space to experiment. I couldn’t have this comfort working from anywhere else because I feel like I can be my authentic self here. There are also great opportunities to connect with, and learn from, established artists on the island through workshops and apprenticeships. It’s easy to network and exchange ideas because of the small size of the island.
What improvements do you believe should be made to the art scene in Cyprus?
I believe improvements can be made at the core of education on the island. I feel children need a greater appreciation for the arts! This could be accomplished by exposing young students to more art programs at school, where they can experience creating themselves. This could help them ultimately understand the value of art and hopefully inspire them to purchase, experience, and create more art in the future.
It’s also hard to balance the creative and business side of being an artist. I’m lucky to have an undergraduate degree in graphic design and masters in business management to help my entrepreneurial endeavors, but this may not be the case for other artists on the island. Developing programs and coworking spaces that can provide business advisory could be beneficial for artists to sustain their practices here.
How are you defining your voice in the art scene of Cyprus?
I believe everyone has a right to art! I want to create a range of accessible and exclusive pieces so everyone can have the means to have something beautiful in their homes.
I also love collaborating with brands and other artists on the island. It’s important for me to help brands have original creative designs here in Cyprus, so I’m always looking for ways to work with them.
Print inspired by one of Morari’s pandemic lockdown pastimes
What advice would you give “Nina” from a year ago that you want to continue to practice today?
Find time to get bored. Take the time to relax because when things slow down there is room for new ideas and experiences to pop up. Sometimes I stress too much thinking I’m not doing enough, but I don’t always need to be moving, creating, or experimenting all the time.
Keep up with Morari at her Instagram here
The Multi-Dimensions of Michail Parlamas
“I need to add paint for paint’s sake back into my work,” proclaims Michail Parlamas, a contemporary painter based in Athens, Greece. Parlamas is an artist with a wealth of education and a curious and evolving mind. “When I was a student, I was more spontaneous, and it was liberating. I’m not like that now, and sometimes that innocence is missing in my work,” Michail says of his latest creative hurdle. He wants to connect more deeply with his audiences, ensuring they themselves can add a piece of their own story into his canvases. To do this, he plans to add more pure material elements, like striking brush strokes, into his compositions as opposed to his usual representational work.
Michail Parlamas
Parlamas’s lowbrow, pop-surrealism, paintings showcase shocking worlds complete with astoundingly real representations of political, historical, and personal moments and figures. There are a multitude of layers to uncover in any of Parlamas’s paintings, leaving viewers with more to discover at each glance.
He credits his extreme growth and mastery in technique to his schooling in Thessaloniki and London. “I had a happy relationship with my tutor in Thessaloniki, but London was a culture shock for me and I felt like I was losing the core of who I was when I was there,” Parlamas shares. His tumultuous relationships with his teachers in London left him insecure about his career and confused about his perspectives. It wasn’t until he returned to Greece full time that he discovered his own “personal god,” the identity of the person he was without outside influences.
“Venus De Milo”, Acrylics on Canvas, as part of Parlamas’s pull-float series, 2021
With a deeper understanding of the intention of his artistry, Parlamas recently revisited his unfinished self portraits from school. “I felt I didn’t have the means to complete my portraits the way I wanted to when I was a student,” Parlamas claims. “I returned to them as an adult because I now have my established methodology, maturity, and technique to accomplish their original goal,” he says satisfyingly. His portraits show intimate and distorted reflections of himself in various chaotic and warped environments. The completion of these works provide him with closure from his past and a sense of victory over the criticism from school. He now approaches projects with a clean slate, and has the confidence to expand his network and relationships in Greece and abroad.
“Selfie in a Dormitory Kitchen”, Acrylics and oils on canvas, 2003-2021, self portrait
“The local art market is not flourishing like it was before the pandemic because of the dwindling gallery attendance and general fatigue in society due to the lockdowns,” Parlamas states. While he believes there was a creative renaissance following the 2007 Greek economic crisis, he doesn’t feel the same robust energy today.
With a more centralized art community in Greece, compared to America for example, Parlamas feels his work occasionally stands out as obscure. “It can sometimes be tough creating lowbrow art that is entirely unique from the general market trends,” Parlamas shares, but he’s taken to Instagram for more global exposure. “It’s important for artists to connect directly with their audience and see people appreciate their work, that’s why Instagram has become so important,” Parlamas says. He’s had professional opportunities come his way through social media, but finds his connection to his new and established supporters the most alluring element.
Left to right:
“Matryoska”, acrylics and oil on canvas, 2020
“Selfie in a Bathroom”, acrylics and oil on canvas, 2003-2021, self-portrait
“Jesus Loves You”, acrylics on canvas, 2019
It’s easy to get lost in the vivid and intense worlds of Parlamas’s paintings, but that’s certainly part of the fun. His works are as multi-dimensional as he is, creating a wonder of entertainment for his viewers, and reminding them of the different depth of everyday realities.
Keep up with Parlamas at his Instagram here
We want to hear your thoughts and comments each month as we showcase young up-and-coming artists. Do not hesitate to reply directly to this email or at connect@kalominanews.com to share your voice.
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