Jan 3

Jan 3 ARTIST IRENE POULIASSI

Art, Creative People, Culture, Interviews

POULIASSI'S WORK IS CONCERNED WITH MODERN FETISHES AND THE SUBJECTIVITY OF AGGRESSION IN AN UNCONSCIOUSLY TRAUMATISED SOCIETY. THROUGH BODILY REPRESENTATIONS SHE IS REFERRING TO A COMBINATION OF DYSTOPIAN ENVIRONMENTS, URBAN SAVAGERY AND THE CHAOTIC FORCES THAT APPEAR AS PROBLEMS IN OUR MODERN SOCIETIES

We are huge fans of Irene Pouliassi, a multidisciplinary artist, born in Athens, Greece and based in London.

Selected Shows are Ritalin Shots Solo show at peritechnon Karteris Gallery in Greece, The great islanders project at Jing Lu gallery(2019) Taipei, Young Gods Exhibition in CHARLIE SMITH LONDON(2019), Tate’s Exchange at Tate Modern(2018) and Alongside these my work has been selected and presented in Sejong Museum of Art in Seoul and National Historical Museum of Tirana in Albania.

Greatest inspiration and influences?

I am heavily influenced by sub-cultural aesthetics and values.I observe and analyse social phenomena and cultures that exist on the margins of common perception as well as interested in contributing to the projection and realization that the collective shadow influences the society of tomorrow.

When it comes to artistic influences, one of the books that came in to my hands at the right time was the ‘Queer Weird Greek Wave’ by Marios Psaras. It examines how a trend can be thought of as an integral aesthetic response to a societal trauma. Furthermore the series Neon Genesis Evangelion is a great aesthetic influence for me as well as the works of Sarah Lucas..

Most interesting response or reaction to your work?

Due to the materials I am using in my artworks I always get a lot of interesting comments but there are two very specific memorable ones:

Once I had a conversation with an artist. He was explaining that my work reminds him of an installation he had seen some time ago of teeth coming out of a wall and how this work had impacted him. Long story short the artwork he was describing ended up being my installation ‘Dad in the wall’. When we found out he told me that I should pay for his therapist.

The second and the one that left me in awe was when a kid- around 5 or 6 visiting a show saw my work ‘Episode Null: Remembering dad’ sculptures. The sculpture is made of used garments, teeth, animal intestines and sex toys. And the kid turned to me saying ‘ I don't understand it, but if I could I would buy it because I will understand it when I grow up’.

I was speechless.

How has this year changed the way you work, your creative process and how do you see things moving forward?

This year was definitely a challenging one. We saw everyday scenes that we could only imagine existing in dystopian novels and the whole humanity had to adjust to new standards.

At a personal level despite the everyday anxieties, the struggle of maintaining a studio under such conditions and the whole art world going into a pause - it gave me time to think and mature. And time to stay with myself. Taking a look back in the whole history of art I can understand that hardship breeds challenge and challenge breeds change. I can see- and I wish to see new burgeoning art centers emerging and artists raising their voice and concerns louder.

Is there anything else you would like to share with us, about upcoming projects or anything?

Well right now I am working for my next research project ‘ the skulls of my enemies’ enjoying some quiet quality studio time while preparing for my next solo show which will take place next year and working for some exciting new projects.

And last but not least I would like to say a massive thank you for your interest in my work and for this interview.

Thanks to you dear Irene, we look forward so much to see your new work in this new year!

Follow her here.