Greek Artists Leda And Liana Showcased In World's Largest Exhibition: Sculpture By The Sea

The works of Greek visual artists Leda Alexopoulou and Liana Papalexi are featured in the annual Australian Sculpture by the seathe world’s largest annual free outdoor sculpture exhibition returning to the spectacular Bondi to Tamarama Coastal Walk until 7th November 2022.

Alexopoulou and Papalexi were the recipients of the Greek Artists Program for Sculpture by the sea which was developed a few years ago in collaboration with ‘The Hellenic Club Sydney’ and members of the Greek Australian community of Sydney at the initiative of the Mayor of Waverley Council, Ms Paula Masselos, under the aegis and coordination of the Greek Consulate General in Sydney to Greek showcase artistic talent and help improve Greece’s position in the global art world.

The iconic exhibition will transform the coast into a 2 km long sculpture park with over 100 sculptures by artists from Australia and around the world over three weeks.

Before leaving for Greece, Papalexi had the pleasure of meeting the newly appointed Greek Consul General in Sydney, Mr. Ioannis Mallikourtis, who made it a point to visit the artist on site where they discussed her installation work.

43OfmEIw — Greek Artist Liana Papalexi and Greek Consul General in Sydney Mr. Ioannis Mallikourtis.

As one of the most popular and photographed events in Sydney, Sculpture by the seaBondi attracts around 450,000 visitors over the course of 18 days and heralds the start of summer in Sydney.

LIANA PAPALEXI

Athenian-born Liana Papalexi, already an experienced ceramist, is also graduating from the Athens School of Fine Arts. Playing with materials, light and colour, Liana’s work draws the attention of even the most distracted viewer.

Liana introduces us to her artistic world, working with ceramic stoneware or porcelain and letting them act as a light source. The light emanating from a pebble or a boat warms the space and gives another dimension to the artwork. In other cases, captivating colors—balanced yet often combined boldly—appear on a tray or painting to tell a story. In her wall and table works, Liana effortlessly switches from ceramics to painting. Her creations are always vibrant and unique.

THE WORK: ALICE IN PORCELAIN LAND
It’s a getaway for the brain. The beauty of porcelain’s misty translucency is reflected in the light, through the sky and the blue sea, while mingling with the pear-shaped shapes that follow one another under our gaze.

2022 10 SCS Greek 103 — 2022 Copyright Bourdo Photography

2022 10 SCS Greek 12 — 2022 Copyright Bourdo Photography

LEDA ALEXOPOULO

Leda Alexopoulou was born in Athens (Greece) in 1972. She studied at both the Athens School of Economics (1996) and the Athens School of Fine Arts (2004). She holds a Diploma in Marketing and Management and a Diploma in Painting with Honors from the Greek State Scholarships Foundation. In 2002 she completed a semester abroad as part of the EU exchange program Erasmus at the Weißensee Academy of Art in Berlin, Germany. She is currently back at the Athens School of Fine Arts where she is studying sculpture.

She uses a variety of materials and processes in her work, combining various artistic disciplines such as painting, sculpture, land art and design. Exploring the fundamental connection between humans and nature, the artist often tends to work directly in a natural setting where she can draw direct experience and inspiration from her surroundings. At once poetic and provocative, sometimes straightforward and sometimes bordering on the surreal, her creations invariably raise concerns about environmental issues and human existence.

Leda has exhibited her work in both group and solo exhibitions in Greece and abroad. In 2005, she was recognized as one of the top six Fine Art School graduates for 2004. An exhibition of all six graduates was held at Benaki Museum Peireos Str. sponsored by Eurobank and curated by Mrs. Nelli Misirli (former curator of the National Gallery of Greece). With her work, which shows her sensitivity to the environmental crisis, she was invited by the Goethe-Institut to take part in a forum in Croatia entitled On the Edge of the Next Social Revolution, Forum for Creative Minds (March 2011, Zagreb, June 2011). 2010, Art Radionica Lazareti (ARL) / Art Workshop Lazareti Cultural Center, Dubrovnik). In 2021 she took part in the Larnaca Biennale (Cyprus) and was recognized as one of the finalists. Her land art work A piece of Greece will be exhibited at Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia (October-November 2022).

THE WORK: A PIECE OF GREECE
A Piece of Greece is an actual cast of rocks in a bay on the island of Crete. Placing the fabric over the rocks on Tamarama Beach reflects the connections of the many people who have moved to Australia from all over the world.