Athens & London; Intersecting METRO-poleis

Press Release

Athens & London; Intersecting METRO-poleis

Painting Exhibition by

Anastasia Zoi Souliotou

from 19^th September until 27^th October 2011

The Hellenic Centre – Friends Room

16-18 Paddington Street,

W1U 5AS

Marylebone, London

Anastasia Zoi Souliotou’s first solo exhibition in London is taking place at the Hellenic Centre. In Athens & London; Intersecting METRO-poleis,the fast-rising Greek artist brings together the Athens Metro and the London Tube.

Large scale paintings and multiple prints including the artist’s most recent work will be on display. Media range from oil painting to Google Maps digital prints, all dynamically put together alongside the ‘chord’ of movement and colour.

For Anastasia Zoi, the underground is a platform par excellence where city life takes place, a mirror of the city’s identity. An everyday place becomes a dynamic universe of colours with lively people on the move.

Through paintings originating from images of Athens and London undergrounds Anastasia Zoi looks into the (im)possibility of connecting these. The two European capitals are geographically far from each other, thus a physical intersection of their undergrounds is rather a romantic view, a utopian potentiality. However, Anastasia Zoi claims that ‘intersection lies to any association our mind is keen to sense between Athens Metro and London Tube’.

Movement is always there, even in All in the Waiting canvas where every pattern is still. Speed, energy and life animate the waiting in Bakerloo Turn. In the oil on board series titled Passengers, Anastasia Zoi brings portraits of Athenian passengers to London.

Silkscreen prints and engravings underline the dynamic use of corridors, platforms and carriages by various nationalities in the London Tube as well as in the Athens Metro. Prints from Google Maps introduce a virtual ‘Metro-Net’ by proposing a trip between Omonoia Station and Leicester Square station.

Anastasia Zoi’s expressive paintings promise a brilliant joint experience of both cities.

Exhibition Dates: