mappa
2023
Oil on bedsheet
100 x 120 cm
“The history of Nicole Economides’ family is characterized by relocations across continents. When moving to an unfamiliar place, the challenges of language and knowledge accessibility become evident. In her artistic exploration of the Greek American vocabulary, Nicole Economides weaves a narrative reminiscent of language cards, the kind used in childhood to learn and identify objects and words. Drawing from the rich tapestry of the Greek American dialect and the cultural specificity of language, she derives inspiration from the words uttered by her grandmother, carrying the imprint of a body encapsulating the nuanced interplay of presence and absence within their fibers. The initial sheet holds roots in her grandmother’s home, while subsequent ones are carefully curated from the dwellings of friends and the lively stalls of flea markets, each sheet bringing with it the distinct narrative. Within Nicole’s artistic endeavor, domestic objects assume prominence on these sheets, subtly exposing societal class distinctions and echoing the journey of economic migration. The painted imagery on these domestic canvases becomes a masterful reflection of the interconnected worlds of language, culture, and the tangible imprints left by the ebb and flow of migration.”
Excerpt from curatorial text for boiling it down by Olympia Tzortzi
2023
Oil on bedsheet
100 x 120 cm
“The history of Nicole Economides’ family is characterized by relocations across continents. When moving to an unfamiliar place, the challenges of language and knowledge accessibility become evident. In her artistic exploration of the Greek American vocabulary, Nicole Economides weaves a narrative reminiscent of language cards, the kind used in childhood to learn and identify objects and words. Drawing from the rich tapestry of the Greek American dialect and the cultural specificity of language, she derives inspiration from the words uttered by her grandmother, carrying the imprint of a body encapsulating the nuanced interplay of presence and absence within their fibers. The initial sheet holds roots in her grandmother’s home, while subsequent ones are carefully curated from the dwellings of friends and the lively stalls of flea markets, each sheet bringing with it the distinct narrative. Within Nicole’s artistic endeavor, domestic objects assume prominence on these sheets, subtly exposing societal class distinctions and echoing the journey of economic migration. The painted imagery on these domestic canvases becomes a masterful reflection of the interconnected worlds of language, culture, and the tangible imprints left by the ebb and flow of migration.”
Excerpt from curatorial text for boiling it down by Olympia Tzortzi
Installation images © Stathis Mamalakis