Ioanna, a new contributor living in Cyprus.
Really pleased that Ioanna is joining Carry Forth Tradition as a contributor - all the way form Cyprus! I look forward to seeing her posts and ventures!
“”My name is Ioanna Kalogirou. I was born in Cyprus and studied in Athens School of Fine arts, in Greece. After my graduation I returned back to Cyprus. I am currently teaching art in my art studio. I spend my time gardening my small garden, painting nature outdoors as well as other subjects in my studio and teaching art. I am happy that my art studio is currently growing as a space for hosting different events, and bringing people together to use it in different ways. Up to now, we have had events such as rain stick workshops, jamming sessions, art therapy lessons, cell-biology art lessons and meditation sessions.””
I am an artist living in Cyprus, a small beautiful island in the Eastern Mediterranean sea. I Graduated from Athens School of Fine Arts in Greece and then returned back to the island, on 2011. Currently I have my own art studio in Nicosia, where I teach art, organize art projects and activities and paint my artwork.
Upon arriving back home, I came across a challenge. I wanted to find a genuine side of my inspiration that I felt I had built a division from. I wanted to reevaluate and reexamine the meaning of beauty and purity, in my own terms, without being influenced by the contemporary trend. Being labeled as “old-fashioned”, traditional painting isn’t valued for what it is, but judged for what it isn not, and that for me, is itself a “taboo”, a label, and a discrimination.
I changed different jobs, and in the mean time following art teachers or studying on my own and mainly experimenting on oil painting techniques. Since then and along with painting in the studio, I recovered my old habit and passion, to go out in nature and paint outdoors.
Apart from the technical part which I find important to master, my approach on art is a process of self realisation. I came to understand that in order to convey something honest and truthful, each time, I will have to search deep inside myself, and cast away anything that is not genuine .That is why the pursuit of beauty and purity are not superficial but carry deep meanings for me. Through this process, unwillingly and naturally, I gain new insights about myself as well.
Through self -reflection, meditation and the external stimulations from the beauty of nature, I try to find my way in art. I will be happy to share with you my life and how my art process comes to be…!
