On September 20th, the first solo exhibition of artist Kristia Andreou opened at Gloria Gallery in Nicosia. Titled Nostalgia, this exhibition is a heartfelt exploration of memories, a theme the artist has been deeply engaged with between 2022 and 2024. Through a series of evocative paintings, she invites viewers to connect with their personal experiences and reflections.
Kristia Andreou at her studio in Nicosia, 2024
Kristia Andreou, a Cypriot-Bulgarian painter and sculptor, studied at the Cyprus Academy of Arts from 2008 to 2010, earning a GCE in Fine Arts. In 2012, she refined her skills in academic painting at the National Academy of Arts in Sofia, Bulgaria. She later obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts from the University of the West of England, Bristol, in 2016, followed by a Master’s degree in Fine Arts from Frederick University, Nicosia, in 2018, focusing on Contemporary Art Practices.
In her earlier artistic practice and research, Andreou critically examined social, political, and cultural issues. Drawing from her multicultural background, she explored the contrasts between different traditions and cultures. One of her notable projects involved researching Bulgarian economic refugees in Cyprus, conducting interviews and collecting their stories. Her work depicted how refugee identities slowly fade over time. Alongside the interviews, she took photographs of the participants, creating collages that fused their personal stories.
Balance, 2022. Oil on canvas. 120х100 cm
In her latest project, Nostalgia, artist shifts her focus to human figures, history, and myths, with a particular emphasis on emotions and the fleeting moments that define human nature. The blurred effect in her paintings offers viewers a glimpse into her interpretation of memory. Drawing inspiration from her own photographs, as well as the artworks of Robert Capa, Dorothea Lange, and Zun Lee, she portrays memories as unfinished fragments of the past, dreams of the future, and moments of the present.
The central theme of Nostalgia is the capture of emotions and precious moments. Through her artworks, artist conveys the idea that our lives consist of countless moments stretched over time. These moments, though often unequal in significance, form the foundation of the stories we tell about ourselves and others. While many memories fade with time, each one possesses the potential to shape our lives in profound ways.
The official opening took place with the support of Gloria Kassianidou – director of the Gloria Gallery & Hourig Torossian – artist, Associate Professor of Fine Arts and Communication department of Frederick University.
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