Greek Diaspora artists exhibition "Transplants" opens in New Υork

NEW YORK – The Anya and Andrew Shiva Gallery at John Jay College of Criminal Justice of the City University of New York, presents Transplants: Greek Diaspora Artists. The exhibition opened to the public on May 2 and was accompanied by a symposium moderated by the show’s curator Dr. Thalia Vrachopoulos, the same day, with guest speakers Professor Nicholas Alexiou of Queens College, Dr. George Andreopoulos- the Director of the Human Rights Institute at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and at the Graduate Center, fine artist Peter Gerakaris, and art critic Jonathan Goodman. The exhibition’s opening reception followed the symposium and was well-attended by art enthusiasts from all walks of life.

The impressive exhibition brings together a remarkable array of artworks from paintings and photographs to sculpture and installations. All the attendees noted the powerful creative spirit of the work and admired the effort to bring so many talented artists together for the exhibition in such a wonderful space. Transplants is an exhibition not to be missed.

Among those present were Consul General of Greece in New York Konstantinos Koutras, Aris and Marilena Christodoulou, Nicaela Callimanopulos, and many of the artists with works on display in the exhibition including Antonia Papatzanaki, Aristides Logothetis, and Lilia Ziamou.

Ziamou’s work explores the confines of the body. She is intrigued by what is possible and what is not when existing boundaries are challenged. Her sculptures combine digital fabrication and innovative materials with traditional art-making processes such as stone carving, molding in clay and casting in cement. To create her digital compositions, she digitally manipulates photographs of her sculptures.

Transformation of the boundaries of form, surface, and materials 

Her artistic process involves transformation of the boundaries of form, surface, and materials and reveals the body from multiple vantage points. This transformation process reveals alternative realities and challenges initial perceptions. Transformation is linked to themes of identity, beauty, decay, and self-expression. Her works invite the viewer to question existing preconceptions. More information on Lilia Ziamou and her work is available on her website: www.lilia-artspace.com.

The exhibition runs through June 28 and explores the unique nature of diasporic art by Greek-American avant-garde artists in the age of globalism. Dr. Vrachopoulos, the curator, said, “The efforts I am addressing in the exhibition relate both to the artists’ original and transplanted contexts. The art being discussed illustrates the artists’ acculturation process through the creation of a new esthetic and a new social milieu; these artists are also developing ways of seeing that incorporate influences from their country of birth. Today, the position of artists is transitional, a global phenomenon; it transforms the artists’ first, formative conditions and insights and reworks them into their present circumstances. In their metamorphosis of a new social position, the result of a changed geography, we find a rich tapestry of innovative ideas, philosophies, media and styles.”

The participating artists are: Eozen Agopian, Maria Anasazi, Maria Antelman, Eleana Antonaki, Pedro Barbeito, Laura Dodson, ELECTROS aka Babis Vekris, Peter D. Gerakaris, Morfy Gikas, Yorgos Giotsas, Mary Grigoriadis, Mark Hadjipateras, Maria Karametou, Zoe Keramea, Georgia Lale, Alexandros Lambrovassilis, Eirini Linardaki, Aristides Logothetis, Despo Magoni, Georgette Maniatis, Nicholas Moore, Eleni Mylonas, George Negroponte, Ioanna Pantazopoulou, Alexandros Papadopoulos, Antonia Papatzanaki, Costas Picadas, Konstantinos Stamatiou, Panos Tsagaris, Philip Tsiaras, Lydia Venieri, Adonis Volanakis, and Lilia Ziamou.

The exhibition, Transplants: Greek Diaspora Artists, is free and open to the public May 2-June 28 at The Anya and Andrew Shiva Gallery, John Jay College of Criminal Justice, 860 11th Avenue in Manhattan.

Gallery Hours: Monday–Friday, 10 AM-6 PM.

More information is available via email: gallery@jjay.cuny.edu, by phone: 212-237-1439, and online: www.shivagallery.org.

Read more here.

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Source: thenationalherald.com