LENA MORFOGENI – ARTIST STATEMENT
Art is a journey to my deep inner world. With my artwork I take a critical view of social and cultural issues. The result may often be at odds with my actual feelings or the meaning I wish to convey. Painting is a constant battle to depict what may seem a thorny and painful issue as an interesting and attractive one, thus motivating people to become aware of the problem.
The range of colours I use offers me flexibility and changeability as to presenting feelings. I use oils,silicone, charcoal and sand, blending them in a subtle and thorough way so as to achieve the desired effect.
In my latest work, each colour awakens a different emotion. My concerns about women’s role in society and the violation of their rights is depicted throughout my artwork.
With my conceptual judgement and compromised understanding, I challenge what is visually absent to unravel as a tactile reality.
CV
Born in 1969 in Athens, Greece.
Studied in the School of Fine Arts, Aristoteleion University of Thessaloniki, Greece. Studied the art of iconography and conservation of Byzantine icons under the supervision of iconographer-painter Constantinos Georgopoulos. Attended a series of workshops on mosaic art under the supervision of Dimitris Vafeiadis. Taught History of Art and Creative Drawing in a private college in Athens, Greece.
Many paintings are found in private collections.
SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2018
Ataxia, Solo exhibition, Chili Art Gallery, Athens, Greece
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2021
5th Sculptures Group Exhibition, Byzantine & Christian Museum, Athens, Greece
International Mediterranean Friendship Exhibition, Fatih Sultan Mehmet Vakif University, Istanbul, Turkey
15th Contemporary Istanbul, Group exhibition, Gallery Binyil, Istanbul Convention and Exhibition Center,Istanbul, Turkey
2020
Fabriano in Aquarello, Group exhibition, Fabriano, Italy
4th Sculptures Group Exhibition, Byzantine & Christian Museum, Athens, Greece
6th Watercolour Biennale, Galerija A,Beograd, Serbia
2019
Fabriano in Aquarello, Group exhibition, Fabriano, Italy
Chromos, Group exhibition, Gallery Karouzou, Zurich, Switzerland
The Sixth Silk Road International Festival, Xian, China
Small Sculptures, Group exhibition, Byzantine & Christian Museum, Athens, Greece
4th Art Thessaloniki, Group exhibition, International Exhibition Center, Thessaloniki, Greece
2018
Rendevous in Samarkand, Group exhibition, Trii Art Hub, Athens, Greece
11th Scope Art Show, Group exhibition,”Gallery Karouzou”, Basel Pavilion,Basel ,Switzerland
Small Sculptures, Group exhibition, Byzantine & Christian Museum,Athens,Greece
Water School, Group exhibition, Gallery Binyil, Hamam Art Hub, Istanbul ,Turkey.
3rd Art Thessaloniki, Group exhibition, Gallery Art Noise, International Exhibition Center, Thessaloniki,Greece
2017
Art Athina, Group exhibition, Gallery Binyil, Faliro Pavilion, Athens, Greece.
12th Contemporary Istanbul, Group exhibition, Gallery Binyil, Istanbul Convention and Exhibition Center, Istanbul, Turkey.
Small Sculptures, Group exhibition, Museum of Makronissos, Athens Greece.
2nd Art Thessaloniki, group exhibition, Gallery Binyil, International Exhibition Center, Thessaloniki, Greece.
2016
Art Athina, Group exhibition, Gallery Binyil, Faliro Pavilion, Athens, Greece.
Refugee and Migrant Crisis, Michael Cacoyannis Foundation, Athens, Greece.
Black is white #2, The Pulse Gallery Kolonaki, Astypalaia, Greece.
Anti/rysis, Pirée Art Space, Pireaus, Greece.
Art Exhibition, UNESCO World Heritage Kefalonia, Ithaca & Zakynthos Organization, Zakyhthos, Greece.
Woman: Mother, Daughter, Wife, Friend…, The Anya and Andrew Shiva Gallery & President’s Gallery, New York, USA
1rst Art Thessaloniki Contemporary Art Fair, Thessaloniki International Exhibition Center, Thessaloniki, Greece.
2015
6th Beijing International Art Biennale “Memory and Dream”, National Art Museum of China,Beijing.
2012
Live, Love, Laugh, Group exhibition of painting and photography, Stavros Mihalarias Art Gallery, Athens, Greece for the non-profit organisation “I Live for Me”.
2000
Harley Davidson Embracing Art, Group exhibition of painting and photography, Gallery of Contemporary Arts, Ileana Tounta, Athens, Greece.
1997
Graduate Exhibits, Group exhibition of graduate students in the School of Fine Arts, Aristoteleion University of Thessaloniki, Greece.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2004 – 2009
Conservation and restoration of private neoclassical residences in the centre of Athens and other suburbs.
1998 – 2003
Conservation and restoration of neoclassical buildings owned by the Ministry of Culture (ICOMOS, C. Psaropoulos Foundation, Athens).
1997-1999
Conservation of the pictorial and sculptural decoration of the Athens Observatory in collaboration with the painter Constantinos Georgopoulos.
1994 – 2002
Construction of sets for theatrical performances in collaboration with sculptor Dimitri Vafeiadis, for performances in the National Opera of Greece, the REX theatre and other theatres.
Tutoring candidates for the Greek School of Fine Arts placement exams.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
The Album of Sculptures Group Exhibition, Athens Greece, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, catalogue
Chromos, Zurich 2019, catalogue
The Album of the 6th Watercolour Biennale A Gallery, Belgrade 2019, catalogue
The Album of the 5th Watercolour Biennale A Gallery, Belgrade 2018, catalogue
3rd Art Thessaloniki Contemporary Art Fair, Thessaloniki 2017, catalogue
2nd Art Thessaloniki Contemporary Art Fair, Thessaloniki 2017, catalogue
1rst Art Thessaloniki Contemporary Art Fair, Thessaloniki 2016, catalogue
Refugee and Migrant Crisis, Michael Cacoyannis Foundation, Athens 2016, catalogue
Yeni Asir, Turkish newspaper, interview by Ugur Oral, February 2016
The Album of the Sixth Beijing International Art Biennale, China 2015, catalogue
Tahidromos, Greek magazine, interview, November 2005
Harley Davidson embracing art, Athens 2000, catalogue