| Katina Gavalas digs deep into family treasures to produce her most stunning collection of limited edition prints. Female forms and delicately layered patterns referencing family heirlooms of lace and embroidery, shine brightly in the beautiful new works unveiled in her Seductive Tranquility exhibition.
Katina pays homage to strong women in her life – her late sister, mother and grandmothers. “These talented women are my inspiration, and I have incorporated treasured pieces they made into my prints.” She also proudly references her Greek heritage where embroidery was a skill handed down through the generations. “I elevate these precious heirlooms into emblems of strength to honour my matriarchal influences.”
Embroidered doileys made by her grandmothers are a recurring visual theme. Katina uses them to clothe anonymous female forms. They also layer her backgrounds in rich patterns respendent with ultramarine blue – the colour of Greece – and touches of gold celebrating rituals and family life. In What She Wore, a bedspread made by her grandmother is crafted into a beautiful dress.
Since childhood Katina has been obsessed with fashion, fabric and pattern, which led her to study fashion designing: “In my compositions I want the viewer to admire and appreciate the precious embroideries and fabrics not only for their workmanship, but to also see them as an integral part of tradition and identity.”
Katina Gavalas and Emily Blom’s exhibition, opens at Handmark this Friday June 20 until July 21. |