Childhood memories
My works mainly depict child figures. It is about mixed technique, where ink and gold leaves are combined. The figures interact, perplex, and create moments. At a glimpse, the sensation of temporary recall of a memory or sentiment is created. The artworks create the feeling of nostalgia for childhood, either in a carefree way or not. However, this feeling is always created by a sequence of thoughts regardless of age.
Based on the rationale of automation and monocondyle, the artworks recalls elements of childish sketches. Bold lines, confused colors, parts that create the sense of chaos or chasm are combined with each other and bring about narratives and memories. Spending much time in my daily life with children, I observe their spontaneity and their special understanding on the way of depiction of their thoughts.
Furthermore, large or small surfaces coated in gold leaves complement the uniqueness of childhood. Gold leaves symbolize the preciousness and timelessness. The gold element lights up the artworks and replaces the voices that cannot be heard.
The placement of gold in my artworks is done in a spontaneous and automatic way. The goal is to create the conjunction with the childish memories, which are recalled many times partially, as if the beginning, the middle or the end is missing, creating the unconventional emotion of remembering. Memories, cut off, often stuck in phrases, emotions or persons are illustrated explicitly in my artworks with the use of hard lines, the lack of details and the avoidance of the space depiction and the details of the scenes. The coexistence is achieved through the hard forms that are created by the gold leaves, which complement the scenes in a both bold but also delicate way.
Soultana Iloridou 