Interview

Jul 25

Vivienne Kontoyianni Matsioula

Vivienne Kontoyianni Matsioula was born in Athens in 1972. She studied Graphic Design and Illustration in Middlesex Univercity England and worked for several years as a graphic designer. She also experimented with photography, vitraux, clay and mixed media, attending many relevant seminars. In 2017, she studied Art Therapy at the University of Aegean and now she has her own studio where she combines psychology with art. She also attended several seminars at Ianos publications on children's books illustration. She writes and illustrates fairytales and books. She believes in the healing of inner self through art and spends every day writing, painting and taking long walks in nature.

What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?

“As a child, my relationship with painting started out of boredom in family dinners, where I could find myself playing with my food instead of eating it, drawing with slices of potatoes, tomatoes, cheese and whatever I could find inside my plate while grownups were talking about indifferent subjects. Later on, drawing with food opened the way for me to start drawing on paper. And when my older cousin brought me, as a present for my birthday, a big watercolor block, watercolors and brushes, I knew that this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. My passion led me to Middlesex University, where I received a BA in Graphic Design and Illustration. Luckily enough, I found a job in Greece's most recognizable companies, Cosmote Greece, as a Graphic Designer and I worked there for twenty years, gaining a serious background in design. As a person that always wanted to fulfil my dreams, I decided that, after twenty years, it was time to move to the next big step. I left my job to study art therapy, with an emphasis on the visual arts at the University of the Aegean. I now work as an art therapist in my own studio as well as an illustrator. I am currently working on my first fairytale, both writing it as well as illustrating it. I enjoy every moment of this job. Every day which involves art is a day blessed.”

What inspires you?

“I get inspired from many things. It could be nature that inspires me with its wonderful colours, with its spectacular views, with its gigantic forests and deep lakes or with the everlasting power of sea. It could be childhood memories and happy moments. Also people's relationships and feelings can play a significant role in fairytales in my writing and illustrations. I could get inspired of beautiful color hues of a still life. I get breathless from metaphysic stories or myths and old time legends and want to transfer them on paper or include them in a work of art. In closing, anything can draw my attention as long as it contains internal beauty.”

What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?

“When I take a look at my work, I find that everything circulates around one word: "tranquility". Therefore, whatever I paint, whether it comes around people places or landscapes, concentrates to this particular word. I finally come to the conclusion that, deep inside, there is a hidden need to enter a world of tranquility, of a state of mind that allows freedom, joy and laughter to exist in my personal universe and I want others to come in touch with this particular, unique universe of mine. To actually open the door and enter in another world. I think that this is my underlying message and the meaning of my work.”

“Every day which involves art is a day blessed.”

How would you describe your work?

“Dreamy, passionate, tender, fairytale like. These words come to my mind as I observe my paintings.”

Which artists influence you most?

“Apart from the biggest painters ever existed such as Sandro Botticcelli, Vincent Van Gogh or Paul Gauguin, I have innumerous influences, especially in children's books illustration. I will mention a few of them though every day I come in contact with very many talented young people whom work influences me and help me evolve. I will mention my childhood influences, Beatrix Potter and Vivien Kubbos as well as my adult ones, Rebecca Dautremer, Antony Browne, Helen Cooper, Benjamin Lacombe and Jannicke Hansen.”

What is your creative process like?

“I mostly work with watercolors and watercolor pencils. I enjoy how color spreads on the wet paper, I like the vibrance of each color, the playfulness and freedom I feel when painting with this medium. I often sleep with this new idea coming to my mind and weak up eager to enter my studio and bring it to life. Sometimes, I can spend months or even years thinking of an idea and waiting for it to be born when I am ready.”

What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?

“An artist’s role varies. There are so many roles as much artists exist. An artist can comment on society's matters or be an observer or lead the way to new horizons. An artist can bring people in contact with their inner selves or evoke feelings. This is my role. I am trying to connect people with their inner feelings, thoughts and memories.”

Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?

“In my studio, there is an exhibition of my work, where everybody can arrange a tour. Also, in September there is going to be an exhibition with all the work done by me and people that come here for art therapy and art lessons.”