painting exhibition nicosia 2015
TRANSCRIPT
MEMORIES FROM ASSISI"
Through much detail, gold, chivalry and poeticism, and vivid imagination, the artist Konstantinos Zannetos
brings to life on his canvases the age of dawn. From the darkness of the Middles Ages, comes the light of the
Renaissance and with it stories of knights and queens, of mythological figures and creatures and symbolism, in
absolute harmony with floral backgrounds and designs.
Zannetos is inspired from the days he spent in Assisi. The artist has sunk into a peaceful atmosphere of beauty
and having taken it in, having amalgamated it with his own soul, brings it out in a series of works which
emanate quality and transcendental meditation. The art is ethereal; it carries the viewer along with it on wings
of angels, on knight's horses to another world. The hare signifies rebirth, resurrection to the light, a symbol of
fertility and sensuality. Roses recall love, violets recall shyness and books the knowledge that unites the world.
Every single little detail speaks of its own and altogether, figures and objects, lead us to light, to hope. In a
quiet, un-provoking way, the artist expresses his optimism.
In the days we have been living for almost two generations now, beauty invites us to take a breath of fresh air.
Are we looking at fantasy escapism? Perhaps yes, but so necessary! The artist's work recalls the sensuality and
emotions of the Pre-Raphaelite era. Does it remind us of Klimt? The upright figure of a woman, does she not
bring to mind Theodora? Byzantium? Elements from various periods are here reproduced to give pleasure and
beauty and make allusions to the multicultural past of Cyprus: they form a secret garden to be entered,
discovered and appreciated.
Dr. Rita C. Severis
Art Historian
Secret Garden I d. 40 cm oil paint on canvas and gold
Secret Garden II 167 cm x 90cm oil paint on canvas and gold
Secret Garden III Secret Garden IV
l 12cm x 47cm oil paint on canvas and gold 5 4cm x 3 6cm oil paint on canvas and gold
Secret Garden V 126cm x 80cm oil paint on canvas and gold
Secret Garden VI
40cm x 30cm oil paint on canvas and gold
Secret Garden VII 41 cm x 2 6cm oil paint on canvas and gold
Secret Garden VIII 66cm x 2 7 cm oil paint on canvas and gold
Secret Garden IX 30cm x 25cm oil paint on canvas and gold
Secret Garden X 4lcm x 26cm oil paint on canvas and gold
Secret Garden XI
74cm x 43cm oil paint on canvas and gold