Ntina Anastasiadou

Greek by birth, global by art

Ntina Anastasiadou does not need any introduction. For artists, their work speaks. We will try to approach a multi-talented artist, who, through her painting and sculpture unifies countries and cultures.

Ntina Anastasiadou with her sculpture Family, (bronze, 2009)

Ntina Anastasiadou with her sculpture Mrs Megumi Shuler with her daughter,

(sumi and colours, 1997)

After brilliant studies and artistic courses, she continues to study. She is in India, with scholarship from the Government of India. Here she is pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in sculpture and (modern) history of Indian Art. Her dissertation is on «Japanese painting and its influence in modern Indian art», thus she connects Japan with India.

With her professor Dr. Sohini Dhar.

With her fellow students and her professor at Rabitranath Tagor’s residence.

Her sculpture «Origami» is displayed in front of the gate of the Embassyof Japan in Athens. It’s symbolizing the Japanese crane, symbol of peace and love. The Ambassador of Japan to Greece Mr. Takanori Kitamura when he inaugurated the painting and sculpture exhibition of  NtinaAnastasiadou, held in the Embassy of Japan in Greece in the context of events for the 110th anniversary of Greek – Japanese friendship, he said: «In the field of art Ms. Anastasiadou has helped to build a bridge between Greece and Japan».

Ntina Anastasiadou loves Japan. She does not only through her oeuvre and her exhibitions, but also through her lectures on Japanese culture she shares her experiences to audiences in Greece. 

Her relationship with Japan begins in 1980. She was then in her early 20s. It was her first visit time to Japan. Naturally, she was excited by the Japanese civilization. Returning back to Greece she started to learn the Japanese language. In 1980 with her sculptures she represented Greece at the time of sister-cities cultural events between Greece – Japan and Mytilene island –Ushimado, Okayama.  In 1988-1991 she was granted a scholarship from the Government of Japan (Monbusho) and became student at Kyoto University.

She admires Lefkadio Hearn or Koizumi Yakumo. Her friends in Japan would put it like this, «A Greek lady, following the steps of Hearn».

In Kyoto she had the chance to be associated with an artists’ family, the Takaoki family. She stayed at their home for about five years.  She considers the family as her own in Japan. The Late father of the artist was a teacher of History, he taught her Japanese language, calligraphy, history and art history of Japan. The mother taught her sumi-e and nihon-ga.

NtinaAnastasiadou with her «Japanese mother» Mrs Miki Takaoki.

«This woman and her family lay foundation stones in not only shaping of my self, but also formed the artist in me as well as the human being. They pointed me out the way to improve myself».

Sumi painting (or sumi-e) the traditional art of China and Japan is a difficult technique that is executed by the skillful use of ink and brush. The artist with one stroke has to give the tonality effect from black to light grey. Since the artist has executed his subject he cannot repair or erase his work.

The sculpture of NtinaAnastasiadou is deeply influenced by the simplicity of origami forms, as well as by the Japanese Buddhist and Shinto architecture.

On the occasion of a solo exhibition by Ntina Anastasiadou held at the AENAON gallery in November of 2010, Ms. Magda Mystikou, an art writer, noted: 

«The selfless expression in Ntina Anastasiadou’s sculptures and paintings renews her passion for Japanese culture. Breaths of sumi painting emanated from the cranes in the Japanese sceneries, conveying contemporary messages. Her sculptures harmoniously combine geometric perfection and the abstract creation of form, thus revealing her ideological identity as a transformation of Japanese reality. The coupling of art and sculpture heralds the cultural identity of a conscious expression».

The most recent exhibition of  Ntina Anastasiadou that was held in Greece had the title: «Mathematics and the arts of Japan». It was inaugurated in January 2010 at the Herakleidon Museum of Modern Art and comprised works of sculpture, ceramics and constructions inspired by the arts of Japan.

This autumn Ntina Anastasiadou will be in Greece carrying many experiences from her exhibitions and lectures that she is going to hold in Delhi and Calcutta this year. She will also bring many of her works at home since as long as she is in India she is working tirelessly in order to create as many works as possible inspired by the culture of India.

Ntina Anastasiadou with her beloved indian "daughters"

at I.C.C.R. Kolkata.

You are welcome to read the presentation of Ntina Anastasiadou in a booklet

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You can read the presentation of Ntina Anastasiadou in greek

Μπορείτε να διαβάσετε την παρουσίαση της Ντίνας Αναστασιάδου στα ελληνικά

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TetySolou

Athens, March 2014

The photographs come from the archive of NtinaAnastasiadou who was kind enough to bestow me the right of use.