Interview
Anna Gialleli
Anna Gialleli is a Greek contemporary artist whose work has been shown in festivals all over the Greek cities and parts of Europe. Her first solo exhibition was in 1996, and she shows no signs of slowing down.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“My name is Anna Gialleli and I'm from Greece. I’ve loved painting and colouring since I was a little child, acquiring prizes and awards at school and participating in an exhibition at the age of 16 with famous artists.
For many years I worked in a different job, remarkable and prominent in its own right, but still, painting was always on my mind. Very soon afterwards, I picked up the brushes again and studied art and design privately with a teacher at a studio art workshop. I also studied abstract art at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.
Over the years, I’ve presented my artwork through lots of group exhibitions and some solo ones as well.”
What would you say inspires you most?
“I can't help but be inspired by life itself, by music, movies, human bodies, horses, the sea, nature, the whole world around me. Sometimes just a conversation with a friend will inspire me. I’m inspired even by myself, my daughter, my family.
Sometimes I start out by having an idea in my mind and as I follow it, the art guides me to the end of the journey. It's a wonderful process.”
“I allow my feelings to create, without rules or restrictions. My art is a conversation with the viewers, who are invited to go behind the form and uncover whatever feelings, memories and emotions may be hiding.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“In my opinion, art can be everything that interests us or affects us; everything we touch and everything that touches us.
My themes vary over time: anything from nudity, flowers, nature, bicycles or horses. But whatever the theme is, there is always a different meaning than what’s on the surface. I view my art as a dialogue with the viewers/audiences. It’s easy to understand the underlying message, but open-ended enough so everyone can take away their own meaning depending on their memories, experiences, activities and emotions.”
What is your creative process like?
“In my mind sometimes, everything is totally abstract. But the many years of studying drawing means my hands automatically make forms and shapes. So my work looks like abstract forms that negate engagement with the original subject. It seems like fighting between them. This intensity of the struggle erupts into the artwork like an explosion, and it’s reflected to the viewers who perceive it even if they don't know it. Art is made to evoke emotions.”
What is an artist’s role in society?
“Art plays an important role in shaping the culture of a society. It makes us happier and better people. An artist has the power to make truth emotional, and that makes the role of an artist in society largely dependent on the personality of the artist every time. They can cauterize the peculiarities of society and give their own message.
Artists must be as true as they can within society and the world at large.”
“The artists that inspire me most are from different historical periods. Delacroix with his power and his path, Magritte with his mind, Picasso with his alternate techniques and more others.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“I’ve had the opportunity to participate in multiple exhibitions, and I’m very proud of all of them. They all stand out to me. My latest exhibition was in September at the Palazzo Saluzzo in Genova.”
Website: www.annagialleliart.com
Instagram: @anna_g._art
