Α π ο χ ρ ω μ α τ ι σ μ ο ί works by Lefteris Economou
Exhibition curator: Demetra Ignatiou
Curator assistants: Kyriakos Theocharous – AnnaMaria Charalambous
Graphics: Anastasia Procopi Taki
αποχρωματισμοί is an exhibition featuring as election of works by Lefteris Economou and relevant material from the personal collection and archive of the artist, owned and managed by his family.
The exhibition does not aspire to be perceived as a retrospective; instead it aims towards an in-depth investigation of Economou’s artistic disposition as encountered and documented in his personal archive. The works’ selection is not limited to his well-known paintings and engravings that brought him among the prominent artists of the second generation of Cypriot artists. It also encompasses drawings, sketches and other more experimental and less recognisable aspects of his work. Avoiding a strictly historical and evaluative classification of the works, it proposes a re-introduction of Economou’s oeuvre to the Cypriot public by bringing forward his procedures, processes, influences, pursuits, concerns and relations as creator and as professional artist.
The title of the exhibition reflects the approach and working method adopted in order to deal with Economou’s impressive body of work and relevant archival material that laid (up to now) in a closed context. Known for his extraordinary commitment to daily artistic labour, the artist also meticulously and tirelessly kept an archive of everything that his inherent sensitivity deemed relevant. The group of young cultural professionals assigned with the realisation of the exhibition was granted unconditional access to this archive. In order to reach the final result, the group adopted a mindset influenced by the concept of abstraction to uncover and expose qualities of Economou’s work, possibly outshined by his forceful colours and large scale paintings. During this process it became clear that it is possible to achieve a “discoloration” of his work from dominant perceptions and labels but not from the bright, warm and particular mediterranean light of Cyprus which remains present within the substance of his work even when colours are removed or are not there.
On the occasion of the exhibition a new publication with sketches and small drawings from the archive of the artist was produced and will be available in a limited number of copies.
