LUMIÈRE Contemporary Art Gallery in Limassol presents an evocative exhibition of paintings and ceramics by Christina Drakos, aptly titled “Cityscapes Mindscapes Escapes.”
This series was born from a profound sense of displacement, one that reshaped our relationship with space and our journey through life. The quarantine measures imposed during the pandemic brought into focus our reliance on space and the essential need to traverse within an ever-shifting grid. With transportation restrictions halting our physical movements, we found ourselves disconnected—not only from people but also from the places they inhabit. It was this very restriction that spurred Christina Drakos to embark on a different kind of journey—a mental escape to the cities that hold a special place in her heart.
Throughout history, poets and musicians have celebrated the city as an extension of the human body. From the timeless polis of Cavafy, to Chatzidakis’s hauntingly lonely and deserted streets, Maya Angelou’s vibrant New York, where “children sleep, exchanging dreams with seraphim,” to Verlaine’s echoing Paris that has resonated with the voices of the world since the 19th century, and the labyrinthine canals of Venice, the bustling streets of Mexico City—each city finds its way onto Drakos’s canvas, not as mere images but as personal interpretations. Her paintings do not replicate city maps; instead, they capture the almost mythical essence of remembered spaces. Drakos, who studied fine arts at Paris’s École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux Arts, embarks on a soulful journey to reimagine the presence of these cherished cities.
The paintings in “Cityscapes Mindscapes Escapes” are infused with the hues of desire and the contours of homecoming, echoing the Greek “Nostos”. Space emerges as the central figure, while its inhabitants, though invisible at first glance, are woven into the fabric of the buildings, the ebb and flow of water, the whispers of air, and the symphony of movement. In Drakos’s paintings, people become the echoes of the pandemic era—quarantined yet in perpetual motion, evoking memories, experiences, and aspirations. Through a play of geometric and organic forms that depict urban landscapes from various perspectives—be it a bird’s-eye view, eye-level observation, or intimate close-ups—people are hinted at as traces, remnants left behind as they traverse a place, enriching, reinterpreting, and assimilating it.
In a further exploration of her dialogue with space, Drakos introduces a series of sculptures that offer a three-dimensional embodiment of her multifaceted creative mind. The synergy between the sculptures and paintings, accompanied by the addition of poems and lyrics adorning the gallery walls, expands the exhibition’s narrative. Beyond her acclaim as an artist and photographer, Drakos is an experienced curator, keenly aware of the ever-shifting gaze of the viewer and the boundless fluidity of art.
The cities depicted by Christina Drakos are living entities in motion. They seem to have momentarily paused, allowing her to capture their essence before resuming their captivating, improvised dance before our very eyes.
A part of the proceeds from the exhibition will benefit the “Sagapo Children’s Foundation,” supporting the education of underprivileged children in Cyprus and around the globe. Learn more at www.sagapo.org.
Opening : 29th of March 2024 at 19h00
Duration : 29th March – 1st of June 2024
Visiting hours : Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 15h30 – 18h00 and Saturday from 11h00 – 13h00
