ANTIGONI PAGONA, a visual artist working in painting and photography, presents her first solo thematic exhibition of paintings at her unique art space, Andie Art Gallery. The exhibition, entitled ‘At the Peaks of the Dream’ is inspired by the mountain ranges of Monaco and the snow-covered mountains of Switzerland, where Pagona had spent her childhood. The exhibition opens on Tuesday, November 3, 7pm. Runs till November 21.
The exhibition is curated by Art Historian Annita Patsouraki, who writes the following about Pagona’s beautiful mountain peaks:
‘At the Peaks of the Dream’, offers an intriguing exploration of landscape painting, characterised by an atmospheric and dreamlike dimension, inspired by the mountain ranges of Monaco and the snow-covered mountains of Switzerland. The artist reflects upon her youthful experiences in her birthplace, recalling beautiful memories of mountain walks during school excursions, as well as her love and skill in winter sports.
With thematic consistency, unwavering devotion to imagery and extraordinary enthusiasm, Pagona expresses her personal artistic style, establishing a distinctive and recognisable identity. Vast mountain ranges of imposing height, characterised by their intense, sharp, angular and piercing peaks, almost invariably covered in snow, offer a subtle suggestion of the introduction of different, gently curved ridgelines.
As an admirer of the untamed beauty of the mountains, Antigoni Pagona harmoniously combines their rugged appearance with a gentle, serene sky, effortlessly conveying feelings of peace, tranquillity and contemplation. She makes exceptional use of luminous reflections, skilfully guiding the viewer’s gaze towards the mountain peaks.
A celestial atmosphere, filled with nebulae and countless stars, creates a mystical universe evocative of the Northern Lights and their enchanting, fairytale-like hues. The colour palette, dominated by cool tones of deep blue, sky blue, turquoise, violet and pink-magenta, creates a dreamlike landscape, a transcendent universe. The combinations of shades and contrasting colours give rise to original and striking forms within a unified composition, characterised by dramatic intensity, symbolic meaning and spiritual depth.
The chromatic harmony is further enhanced through skilful textural techniques, such as splattering to depict the stars, as well as the use of a palette knife and impasto to create the rich, three-dimensional textures of the mountains, rocky landscapes and snow. The forms gain emphasis and prominence, bringing the natural beauty of the landscape vividly to the surface.
An element of originality and imaginative thinking is evident in the incorporation of metallic details, in copper or gold, used as outlines or as frames within the composition itself. The free-flowing forms of nature acquire geometric precision, depth and a sense of luxury.
The aesthetic value of these works is further heightened by the emotional impact of nature’s grandeur, while they also lend themselves to a multifaceted symbolic interpretation of the mountain. The mountain embodies a multitude of meanings, both complementary and contrasting. Elevation and union with divine grace coexist with the unattainable and the transcendence of human limitations. In every country, mountains are surrounded by myths and legends and have inspired writers, poets and thinkers throughout the world.
It is in the mountains that human beings encounter tranquillity, absolute spirituality, wonder and the magnificence of the universe.
- Andie Art Gallery is on 17 Farandaton Str.,115 27 AthensGreece.
- Email: info@andie-art.com
- Tel.: (+30) 211 416 6448 / (+30) 693 758 4272
- For more info, you may also visit the artist’s website here
‘Art Scene Athens’ is written/run by artist/journalist Stella Sevastopoulos. For more info, you can visit the ‘About’ page here.
