Athanasia
Grounded in my time exploring mainland Greece and its islands, Athanasia is a series of multi-media photographic collage works.
“Athanasia,” my given Greek name, meaning immortality or deathlessness, speaks to the ever-present connection to my heritage. Looking back at my family tree, the name Athanasia appears generation after generation, binding me to the past and holding true to the definition of immortality. Experiencing Greece’s deeply felt culture, pride in its history, rough terrain, and enveloping sea in tandem with my childhood memories and strong familial ties reaffirmed my sense of self, refocusing my work.
As family consistently drives my conceptual interrogations, in Anthanasia, I contextualize my practice with increased emphasis on my cultural heritage. Hand-cutting, and oftentimes weaving my photographic images, I collage on painted, cradled panels – on occasion with the addition of linear elements – honoring positive and negative forms equally. Throughout this series interconnectedness is a recurring visual theme, as I explore one's individuality, as well as the ties that bind us to the past. Every facet – from imagery and linear elements to the tendency towards symmetry and balance in my compositional decisions – fundamentally reflects that which I hold so dear in my relationship to Greece.
