Sunday Afternoon
2024
Oil on canvas
180 x 180 cm
“The solo exhibition Sunday Afternoonby Greek American artist Nicole Economides delves into themes of nostalgia, the concept of home and the quest for identity in a transatlantic context. This exhibition serves as a continuation of her earlier series, Illusion of a Home, as a Memory, and is being presented for the first time at Callirrhoë. Inspired by photographs her grandmother sent from Greece in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Sunday Afternoon captures the echoes of a distant past. [...]
In the painting Sunday Afternoon nestled between more poignant pieces and vibrantly colored depictions of family life, Economides captures a captivating "in-between" stage. Here, the artist skillfully reflects duality, echoing the liminal space of the front and back of an original postcard. Visitors glimpse both the handwritten notes and the individuals they address, bridging intimate exchanges with vivid portrayals of family members. This piece lends its title to the exhibition and symbolizes the family time spent working together at their restaurant, where they welcomed other Greek families enjoying their time together. Additionally, this time together reflects the economic aspect of migration, as Sunday was a day for counting earnings and reflecting on prosperity. [...]
In Economides' artistic expression, yellow and pink hues in the two largescale paintings transcend the canvas, becoming emotive anchors in the broader family narrative. Warm yellows convey positivity and familial connection, while soft pinks suggest the delicate intertwining of personal histories. Economides' exploration of memory, migration, and identity transcends the personal, touching universal themes. Her storytelling becomes a poignant reminder that our journeys, marked by nostalgia and the quest for identity, are threads woven into the human condition. Despite our diverse paths, we share a longing for belonging, storytelling and emotional connection.”
Excerpt from curatorial text for Sunday Afternoon by Olympia Tzortzi
2024
Oil on canvas
180 x 180 cm
“The solo exhibition Sunday Afternoonby Greek American artist Nicole Economides delves into themes of nostalgia, the concept of home and the quest for identity in a transatlantic context. This exhibition serves as a continuation of her earlier series, Illusion of a Home, as a Memory, and is being presented for the first time at Callirrhoë. Inspired by photographs her grandmother sent from Greece in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Sunday Afternoon captures the echoes of a distant past. [...]
In the painting Sunday Afternoon nestled between more poignant pieces and vibrantly colored depictions of family life, Economides captures a captivating "in-between" stage. Here, the artist skillfully reflects duality, echoing the liminal space of the front and back of an original postcard. Visitors glimpse both the handwritten notes and the individuals they address, bridging intimate exchanges with vivid portrayals of family members. This piece lends its title to the exhibition and symbolizes the family time spent working together at their restaurant, where they welcomed other Greek families enjoying their time together. Additionally, this time together reflects the economic aspect of migration, as Sunday was a day for counting earnings and reflecting on prosperity. [...]
In Economides' artistic expression, yellow and pink hues in the two largescale paintings transcend the canvas, becoming emotive anchors in the broader family narrative. Warm yellows convey positivity and familial connection, while soft pinks suggest the delicate intertwining of personal histories. Economides' exploration of memory, migration, and identity transcends the personal, touching universal themes. Her storytelling becomes a poignant reminder that our journeys, marked by nostalgia and the quest for identity, are threads woven into the human condition. Despite our diverse paths, we share a longing for belonging, storytelling and emotional connection.”
Excerpt from curatorial text for Sunday Afternoon by Olympia Tzortzi
Images © Frank Holbein