Drawing inspiration from the shapes of nature sculptress Eva Papadopoulou crafts unique three-dimensional mosaic works and marble paintings, reviving an ancient art through her remarkable technique.
Eva Papadopoulou
Mosaic Sculptures
Text: Evi Kallini
There are many reasons for one to admire Eva Papadopoulou’s work, starting from the surprising contrast between her young age and her multi-year stint in sculpture, which has rendered her a specialist in the secrets of marble processing. This deep knowledge and the mastery of marble as a raw material has led her to new pathways of experimenting and adopting a pioneering technique that bears her personal mark as a visual artist: reviving the ancient art of the mosaic, she has crafted voluminous and three-dimensional sculptures with tesseras.
Harmony and the rhythms of nature, through repetition and the alteration of seasons and images, serve as a main thematic axe for the artist, who loves to depict the natural landscape of Greece in her works. She finds a supplementary source of inspiration, in addition to nature, in “intense feelings, as well as in the sublime; a beautiful image or a beautiful face. Systematic work and endless search are also something to draw inspiration from as they allow you to unearth an idea or lead an idea to present itself before you”, mentions Eva Papadopoulou.
Her childhood summers in the island of Skyros, her mother’s homeland, played a key role in the shaping of her aesthetic identity. The same goes for her father’s art foundry in Vrilissia,
Attica, where she spent her adolescent years working while still a highschool student, gaining valuable knowledge and experiences. “In the family foundry I got initiated in the art of founding in bronze and the art of the mold, and came in contact with many Greek and foreign artists born in the first half of the 20th century. My acquaintance with the work of these renowned artists co-shaped the basis of my aesthetic culture. I feel lucky for this rare experience, which enabled me to find my own path along the way.”
In 2008 she left for Paris and remained there for almost a decade “in a quest into art, life and creation,” enriching her personal and artistic experiences. Upon returning to Greece she created her own atelier situated in the premises of the family foundry, where she has been working ever since.
I believe it is wise to let the material guide you. This spiky tessera leaves no room for delving into details, but has the power to transfuse movement and an aery look in the outcome. Knowing the material’s possibilities I understand which direction I should follow. Instead of detail and a realistic approach I select the sense of movement.
Our talk then shifts to why she chose a raw material such as marble and how the innovative technique of mosaic sculptures came up as an idea. “Through many hours of work and inner search there comes a time when you have mastered a material, wishing to move further and evolve it. That’s how I discovered the marble chip, which now holds an undisputed place in the core of my work. I believe it is wise to let the material guide you. This spiky tessera leaves no room for delving into details, but has the power to transfuse movement and an aery look in the outcome. Knowing the material’s possibilities I understand which direction I should follow. Instead of detail and a realistic approach I select the sense of movement.”
She singles out her taking part in the Modern Art Fair exhibition in Paris as a pivotal chapter in her career so far. “That’s where I got in touch with an international and demanding audience, realizing that without an innovative and interesting work under my belt I could never make my way in such a field.”
In addition to reliefs, paintings, wall-mounted works and sculptures, Eva Papadopoulou is also a creator of artistic furniture, among which stands out her impressive series of tables, and jewelry. She has a soft spot for jewels’ refined and sophisticated form, whereas the identifying feature of her own work, as in the case of her mosaic sculptures, is no other than the repetition of a key element, which confers the quality of uniqueness to each design. “Behind anything I create lies the need to create something new that did not exist before, something singular that only I get to wear. That’s why my jewels are endowed with a personal identity and an aesthetic tied to my work with marble,” she explains.
She is currently working on a series of old objects, some of which have almost been eradicated from our daily lives in the course of time, nevertheless they remain connected to memories and feelings. After all these years into sculpture, what is her definition of art of everything that art means to her? “Art is the answer, or at least my effort to come up with an answer, to all the fundamental questions of my life,” she replies with a smile and with no second thoughts.
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