Luca Curci talks with Niki Zahari during THE BODY LANGUAGE 2020 at Palazzo Ca\u2019 Zanardi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Luca Curci \u2013 What is art for you?
Niki Zahari \u2013 For me, Art is listening carefully to my deepest feelings. As an artist with vision, my works of art reflect the idea or the aesthetic of my experience. My work is based on the observation of the form, the perception and the emotional intelligence. For me, Art is experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
LC \u2013 What are you currently working on?
NZ \u2013 I am a painter, a sculptor, a visual performer. I am accustomed to working with a lot of materials. I create objects that thereafter I use in my actions. As a painter, I place a great deal of importance on colour and form; on the canvas, I paint worlds, with which the viewer identifies. I work with the philosophy of teachers such as Nikos Kazantzakis who has been for me the constant source of inspiration. The more I work with the body, the more I learn about myself and my truth. And I give my own version of truth in response to the morals of our century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
LC \u2013 Where do you find your inspiration?
NZ \u2013 As a woman, my work involves the role of the woman \u2013 the mother \u2013 the artist; I carry the burden of these roles through the previous generations. With effort, I bring it to life by creating at the same time bright path to my conscience and individual freedom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
LC \u2013 What is the most challenging part about creating your works?
NZ \u2013 Any difficulties arise not from the conception but from the composition of all that I have to say in a short time (condensed concepts). I work with the woman as a woman, having always in my mind my mother and Greece, the country where I was born. My engagement in painting, sculpture and performance created more space for inspiration and creativity. Moving from one area of expertise to another, I leave my footsteps on my art and on what I create, feeling blessed with so many tools in my hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
LC \u2013 How is being an artist nowadays?
NZ \u2013 Nowadays, I believe that the artist has always been combative; he has always created in any circumstances. He has always offered parts of himself to his country, through the culture he has produced. I believe that the crisis our country has been going through has given artists not only opportunities but also difficulties in repositioning themselves, in speaking to their truth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
LC \u2013 What is the message linked to the artwork you have shown in this exhibition? How is it connected to the theme of the entire festival?
NZ \u2013 The message of my work of art is the female figure, helpless and protected at the same time. This action, \u201cThe Butterfly\u2019s Flight\u201d is inspired by the award-winning writer Nikos Kazantzakis\u2019 book \u201cZorbas the Greek\u201d. In this book, he states: \u201cIt is a deadly sin to break the eternal laws. You have the duty to follow the immortal rhythm\u201d. The gynecological chair (BOOM) I found, it\u2019s old; it has its own memories, its own history. I used it as an object for the performance. The woman, like the butterfly, is protected in her own cocoon until the time comes to break it and get out to the freedom. The message can be provocative but it has many meanings. Like a bird that gets out of its egg, so the man also comes to life earning his freedom. Wearing this plaster suit (which I made by myself), I break it slowly, slowly to free ME \u2013 it\u2019s the process of creation and emotion. I balance between art and reality. This is linked to the The Body Language exhibition as it is stated in the title \u201cThe Body Language\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
LC \u2013 Do you agree with our vision of art and what do you think about the theme of the festival?
NZ \u2013 Of course I agree with your point of view. That\u2019s why I sent my participation. Many artists are given the opportunity to develop and show their work through the team ITSLIQUID so as to communicate their message to the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
LC \u2013 What is your idea about ITSLIQUID GROUP? Did you enjoy cooperating with us?
NZ \u2013 Thank you for the opportunity you gave me, I am thankful that you accepted me at Palazzo Ca\u2019 Zanardi. I would be also delighted to be part of it again. Special thanks to Julia Sysalova (art curator) for her comments about my performance \u201cThe Flight of the Butterfly\u201d and Angelos Antonaropoulos for his suggestions about ITSLIQUID.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"