Formulation, Fragmentation, and Funk
An interview with Christina Papaioannou, an artist from Thessaloniki, Greece
September 2021 - No. 4
Becoming an artist was a natural career path for Papaioannou. She comes from a family of artists and gallery owners! With her family’s guidance and Integrated Masters degree from the Athens School of Fine Arts, Papaiouannou is now a bright emerging artist in Greece. She’s exhibited her work across Greece, Cyprus, and London, with an upcoming solo show in Austria this spring.
Papaioannou’s art is obscure, challenging, and peculiar. She deconstructs shapes and forms to create contrasting worlds that allow for new perceptions of the materials and visuals she works with. In her artworks displayed in this interview, for example, she initiates a dialogue between contemporary art and historical pieces of art like Albrecht Durer’s “The Four Riders of the Apocalypse” and “Adam and Eve”.
Christina Papaiouannou
Please describe your artwork in a few words.
I create hybrid works through the deconstruction and reconstruction of different visuals. We are faced with a ton of information everyday that we cannot always fully process, and I represent this concept through the fragmentation of materials and figures in my art.
What impact do you want your art to have over your audience?
I want my audience to find meaning within the detachment and deconstruction of the forms in my paintings. I want them to formulate conclusions and ideas based on their own perceptions and experiences. When the art leaves from my hands, it has a new life of its own and can continue to initiate different stories without me.
“Transparency Garden”, acrylics on canvas
Can you describe your creative process?
I am relaxed when I work. I usually place my canvas on the ground and work over it. When I need a break, I listen to music!
When starting a painting, I see a path ahead of me. I understand how I want to enter and exit the painting. I know my audience may not find concrete entrances or exits in my work, but I can always read my compositions in the exact sequence I created them. Many times when I zoom into a part of my work, I feel that little unit can be a new painting entirely on its own.
What motifs do you thread throughout all of your work?
The human body plays a fundamental role in my artistic and investigative process. The deconstruction and detachment of shapes are threaded throughout all of my work as well as the use of a colorful post-pop palette. I include thin lines of fluorescent yellow in many of my compositions as I feel they act like lightning giving electricity to my paintings.
“Heavenly Fragments”, acrylics and acrylic spray on canvas
What challenges do you face as an artist?
The life of an artist is always challenging. We have to balance creating with business. Most of us have to prioritize our standard professional jobs to fund our need to create. The market in Greece is not doing well right now, following the economic crisis and the pandemic, and we are in a constant practical and psychological struggle.
Are there any rituals you practice to balance your creative process with business?
Music is a big part of my life. I sing and perform blues, funk, and jazz! It’s another creative outlet for me. Playing with music gives me a break from painting and business to reset my energy.
“Neon Collective Trauma”, acrylics, graphite, silver leaf, and acrylic spray on canvas
What are the advantages to working in Greece?
Greece’s history is inspiring! Unfortunately, there are few opportunities and resources that support us artists. We have to be our own advocates here, and that can be difficult. Our jobs as artists should be to create, not worry about promotion. I frequently send my art to art historians and curators for exposure. It is time consuming, but there is growing interest abroad.
What possibilities do you feel can resolve the business challenges in the Greek art scene?
I think artists can work more closely as teams, mirroring a European way of working. When part of an artistic team, artists can be inspired by fruitful conversations and collaborations they couldn't have on their own. It’s important to learn from, bounce ideas off of, and exhibit together with other artists. I think this is the way forward to create a strong supportive environment in Greece.
I am part of the DIPOLA Art Platform, an artistic collective that initiates conversations on politics, contemporary art, and design through exhibitions and other projects. The founders created the DIPOLA Art Platform for the exact purpose of fostering collaboration within the evolving artistic community of Greece.
Keep up with Papaioannou on her Instagram here
Kaló Mína Music Series
As we work with new and eccentric artists each month, we want to provide you with fresh content. Given Papaioannou’s multifaceted interest and musical talents, we are sharing a playlist she curated for you this week. Her selections certainly put us in a goooood groove, what about you?
You can listen through our Spotify Playlist here.
“Mirror Pop Blue”, acrylics on canvas
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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