Foteini Foteinaki
Paper Fold
Paper Fold, 57 x 60 cm, Mrs Athina's yarns. I co-directed this project with my mother and in collaboration with our neighbors from the four adjoining houses. This collective endeavor sparked numerous discussions and unearthed shared memories of departed family members who had a connection to the art of weaving.
Family portraits - Brother
Family portraits - Brother, 48 x 47 cm, Dona Vera's yarns. One of 5 portraits of the family using their own yarns. These were collected by various family members at different times and for different purposes over a span of 30 years.
Village
Village, 10 x 55 cm, Mrs Kerasa's yarns. Mrs. Kerasa, the grandmother of a first cousin, lived in a village. Although I never met her, the yarns I received still carried the scent of her home. I created a new village to host that scent.
Impulse - Brown
Impulse - Brown, 99 x 130 cm. When we are kids, allowing to play and trust the process is what we do. When adults, it requires maturity to do so, as we occupy more space for doubt. (Am I doing it right? Is it interesting?) The original design of this tapestry came from a series of pastime summer drawings, when making a mark with curves was the main goal. Even when the artist is expected to provide a meaning, the lines decide their own story.
The swimmer
The swimmer, 9 x 28 cm, Mrs Donia's yarns. A coastal city showcasing every aspect of urban development, where the azure swimmer gracefully navigates the surroundings. This project involves exploring various forms using gathered yarn originally intended for baby clothes.
Brazilian Sunsets
Brazilian Sunsets, 20 x 30 cm. During the first lockdown, I witnessed numerous breathtaking sunsets from our 11th floor balcony in the same clothes. Amidst the beauty of the scenery, I grappled with both the wonders and horrors of the world day in, day out. This artwork features 2 of those t-shirts and the myriad thoughts they held.
The Twins
The Twins, 40 x 39 cm, Kerstin's yarns. The inspiration for this piece came from the Karyatis sisters (or two elegantly attired girls drawing water from the ancient Athens fountain). Kerstin contributed her spare yarn along with a scarf she had knitted but no longer wished to use. The colors seamlessly aligned with my envisioned design. Once two weavings of the twins were brought to life, one was returned to Kerstin and the other remains with me.
Architexture Profile
Architexture Profile, 40 x 31 cm, (collab with Andrew Krysciak). Architexture Profile is a collaboration between objects that were completed independently. The woven piece is a deconstruction of a profile portrait using building blocks and limited colours. The tapestry is hanging on a painted driftwood that also uses a limited colour pallet.
Lemon
Lemon, 22 x 24 cm, Mrs Nono's yarns. Mrs. Dina paid a visit during the family reunion in Thessaloniki for Christmas. She graciously presented a lemon from her garden to my sister, describing it as so flawless that it resembled a "masterpiece."
Foldups: D West 4th
Foldups: D West 4th, 58 x 44 cm, Mrs Donia's yarns. Isolated 3d shapes floating in space reminiscent of the feeling I had in the intricate NY subway network. A sense of disorientation and detachment to the cityscape above, it encompasses mysterious spatial relationships, and the potential for disconnection within urban environments.
Blue house
Blue house, 41 x 33 cm, Mrs Athina's yarns. A rendition of the Visitor Centre at Niyang River in Tibet, China, featuring remarkable geometry and the distinctive blue reminiscent of Frida Kahlo's Blue House in Mexico City. It is an enchanting and dreamlike place.
In my sleeve - Abstract
In my sleeve - Abstract, 23 x 31 cm, Mrs Athina's yarns. This piece emerged as a "happy accident" when my phone captured clear geometrical shapes of my sleeve. Through a loose interpretation of colour, shape and textures this is a deep dive into my sleeve!
Impulse - Pink
Impulse - Pink, 98 x 139 cm. When we are kids, allowing to play and trust the process is what we do. When adults, it requires maturity to do so, as we occupy more space for doubt. (Am I doing it right? Is it interesting?) The original design of this tapestry came from a series of pastime summer drawings, when making a mark with curves was the main goal. Even when the artist is expected to provide a meaning, the lines decide their own story.
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foteinifoteinaki@gmail.com