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Maria Ikonomopoulou

textiel, Taal, sociaal-maatschappelijk, publieke ruimte, collage

Ikonomopoulou's practice consists of long-term projects that explore themes with a social element, as the titles of the works often indicate: You and Me, Spaces Between Us, Growing Care, Crisis Transformation, Lovely Limitations.
The history of her native country, particularly the etymology of the Greek language, influences her perspective. Rather than politics in the abstract, she is particularly interested in how individuals arrange and share common spaces as citizens (polites) of today's cities (polis).
Inspired by her family history, with women who could make almost anything with their hands, she uses a variety of materials and time-consuming methods derived from folk art traditions, such as embroidery and paper cutting.
More info and images: https://mariaikonomopoulou.com

Civilization (bl)
Civilization (bl) - 2023 . ceramic shards, engraving . 50 x 50 x 3 cm
Growing Care Rotterdam / Athens - In the long-term project Growing Care Maria Ikonomopoulou has been recording, since 2005, private green areas within the public space - mainly in Rotterdam and Athens, the two cities where she lives and works. Photographs of flower pots on the pavements of Rotterdam, lengths of string and elastic protecting - with affecting tenderness and simplicity - little islands of green on the pavements of Athens: these are the raw materials of installations in situ. The prints are then transformed into paper flowers City Flowers through a time-consuming process of design and cutting by hand, finally taking on new and varied shapes in ephemeral installations. In another series of work she uses close up's of the outer wall gardens with the first names of their owners and the names of the plants, which together become a lace of line, color and shape on cutout paper.
School Etymology . outdoor intervention . 2017 - Contemplating about the origin of things the etymology of Greek language has often been a guide, since we still use words that have their origin 3000 years back in history. Inspired by the working title of Documenta 14 Learning from Athens (Kassel/Athens 2017) I was considering what I would like visitors to learn from Athens and then thought of the etymology of the word 'school'. The word comes originally from the word 'scholi' that means 'pause', 'free time', 'having finished your work'. In that sense going to school is actually an enormous privilege, since people that need to work don't have the time to cultivate their minds.
Etude 31
Etude 31 - 2025 . newspapers, Japanese acid free paper, cutout print, embroidery thread . 36 x 25 cm . ©photo : Hans Wilschut
Alteration . 2021 - Installation and a book especially made for the Textile Biennial at the Museum of Rijswijk (NL) with 130 cloth bags filled with dry food next to five piles of tablecloths. The piece is inspired by life in my grandmothers village in Peloponnese where I spend the summers as a child. Handmade pouches from discarded textiles was the traditional way of preserving food in rural Greece before the advent of plastic bags in the 1970s. In the publication with the same title I tell the story of my grandmother's village and how life there has changed over the past 50 years according to my memories and personal observations.
Similarities
Similarities - 2024 . bic ball point pen, uv varnish, Hahnemühle etching paper 100 x 70 cm ©photo : Hans Wilschut
OMG 1-2-3
OMG 1-2-3 - 2024 . world globe, leukopor tape, permanent marker, newspapers, archival varnish with UV protection ©photo: Hans Wilschut
Stacking Stories
Stacking Stories - 2023 . In-situ installation . concrete blocks, olive branches, tiles, pieces of marble, ceramic bricks, pieces of mosaic, handmade textiles, homemade soap, used church candles, candle scent, green soap bars, soap scent . 230 x 230 x 17 cm . part of the group show Eleonas ’23 – Chthonic and Anthropocene curated by Dimitris Trikas
Give me your Word . 2005 - silkscreen print, embroidery, canvas 110 x 60 cm (12) . The project was a commission within the framework of the language campaign Speaking Dutch opens doors (2005) for the foreigners of Rotterdam South. After many years of not speaking the Dutch language they are attending lessons now. In the meantime the population of the neighborhood has changed a lot. In this district people hardly speak Dutch which makes it difficult to practice the language. During this project 40 Dutch speaking women were brought into contact with 40 Dutch learning women. By asking questions they got to know each other and three weeks later they exchanged presents. The Dutch learning women had to buy a present or make something themselves. The Dutch speaking women had to choose three Dutch words for their partner and give them with a personal explanation. All the given words are brought together in a very personal dictionary of the Dutch language Give me your word. Supported by the Municipal Education Department.
Daily Wisdoms
Daily Wisdoms - 2023. newspapers twisted to cord | solo show Lovely Limitations | Mulier Mulier gallery Brussels wall mounted installation ©photo : Hans Wilschut

All Included

Datum:
Locatie: Citronne gallery

solo tentoonstelling

Art Athina

Datum:
Locatie: Zappeion Mansion
In samenwerking met: Citronne gallery

Datum:
Locatie: WTC art gallery
In samenwerking met: Inez Odijk, Ruud Goedhart

about A woman-in your face 02

Datum:
Locatie: studio2 de Doelen art

Groep tentoonstelling met self portretten van vrouwelijke Rotterdamse kunstenaars.

Art Antwerp art fair

Datum:
Locatie: Antwerpen Expo
In samenwerking met: Mulier Mulier Gallery
https://www.art-antwerp.com/en/

where the wild things grow

Datum:

series of outdoor interventions at Klonaridis park / Drakopoulou park, Athens (GR) curated and organized by Counterpublics, 2023

Alteration #2

Datum:
Locatie: The H(a)L - Het Archief

group show, Robert Fruinstraat 52, Rotterdam, curated by Herman Lamers, 2023

Settings

Datum:
Locatie: Pictura

with Fatima Barznge and Kathrin Wolkowicz, Pictura, Dordrecht, 2022

Art Brussels fair

Datum:
Locatie: Tour & Taxis
In samenwerking met: Mulier Mulier gallery

Fragments 2013 - 2019

Datum:
Locatie: Goethe Institute

solo show, Ubergangsweise # 8

At the Beginning Was the Word

Datum:
Locatie: National Art Museum of China

group show, part of the collection of the National Museum of Contemporary Art of Athens travels to China to be exposed at the National Art Museum of China (NAMOC), curated by Katerina Koskina and Anna Mykoniati

RETOUR

Locatie: Verhalenhuis Belvédère

solo show during the residency at the former house/atelier of Wally Elenbaas on the third floor of the current Verhalenhuis Belvédère, Rotterdam, 2022

Food for Thought

Textile Biennale, curated by Diana Wind, Rijswijk Museum, Rijswijk, 2021

To - Date

solo show co-curated by Gelly Gryntaki, Mulier Mulier gallery, Knokke (BE), 2020

Surroundings

group show, Mulier Mulier gallery, Knokke (BE), 2020

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