A recent exhibition of works at Oktana by Elina Pavlides, Greek-Cypriot (American born) artist, multimedia designer & lecturer, presented a thought-provoking series of paintings exploring the significance of home and domesticity in today’s society.
The artist’s repeated use of tree as metaphor in the works, reflects the idea of belonging to one’s roots, whilst domestic materials such as tea bags, magnetic poetry, sugar and cereals, build up from the surface to convey a common underlying spiritual, emotional and intellectual struggle. In contrast the paintings depict a sense of familiarity and peace that is represented through subtle shades, and a feeling of movement in the composition of their materials.

“The paintings enclose real space inhabited by geometric shapes, patterns of energy caused by the interplay between the earth and the tree. A patterned surface constructed of sensations between passion and intellect, order and chaos, intimacy and alienation, myth and reality.

I do not paint my paintings.
I build them with essential building materials:
[plaster, polyfilla, sand and construction foam.]
and more domestic materials:
[teabags (normal/ camomile), corn flakes, sugar, basmalti rice,
magnetic poetry (classic edition)].
I build my nest of comfort.

Welcome Home…you’ve been long awaited.” (Elina Pavlides / Home Sweet Home)