Between Threads - Kwestan Jamal Bawan & Konstantina Lazaridou

Opening: Saturday, 15 March, 2025, 18:00
Duration:  15 March – 5 April, 2025
Hours: Thursday to Saturday, 17:00-20:00

FokiaNou Art Space is pleased to present a two-person show curated by Norwegian Kjell-Erik Ruud, bringing a Norway-based artist into the space with a Greek artist, contrasting media as well as perpectives.

According to Ruud, in the midst of this chaotic time, with threats from the east and west, war and hardship, we need something that shows us what binds us together. These connections emerge in the encounter between two entirely different artistic expressions. "Between Threads" is an exploratory approach between two completely different art forms, involving two women who are at very different stages of life and geographically located at opposite ends of Europe.

Originally from Kurdistan, Kwestan Jamal Bawan presents an installation entitled “Needle as Pencil II” in which she embroiders fabric using her own and her children’s hair. She stitches her life, which is gradually changing, much like watching a film in slow motion. It is a journey from Kurdistan through Europe to Norway; now her embroideries are the ones traveling.

The threads connecting these artworks indeed weave a deeper understanding of the era we are in. Women who lead the way by using their language, or in this case, art, to convey powerful messages are essential voices in contemporary culture.

Konstantina Lazaridou, a recent graduate of Athens School of Fine Arts, hails from Florina. Her ceramic tiles possess a compelling strength; when assembled, they create a cohesive narrative, yet each tile also tells its own story. When these tiles, initially placed in the streets of Athens, are placed within an exhibition space, it introduces an interesting dynamic. The transition from street art to a more traditional gallery setting prompts viewers to engage in a different kind of dialogue. In a gallery, the context shifts from public to private, which can influence how people perceive the work. The interaction with other art forms can enhance or alter the impact of her ceramic pieces. This juxtaposition presents opportunities for deeper conversations about themes such as identity, community, and the role of women in art. Ultimately, it raises questions: How does the environment shape our understanding of art, and what stories emerge from different artistic expressions?

We need hope, we need moments of absence from fear, we need art.

FoKiaNou Art Space is an artist-run project space in the intimacy of a small apartment in an old building in the center of Athens.  The apartment has been transformed into an open space that encourages collaborative creative efforts between Greek and foreign artists, thereby promoting and supporting the local art community.  The space hosts exhibitions, workshops and projects under the direction of two artists, Mary Cox and Panagiotis Voulgaris.