Mara Dimopoulou talks to us
Mara Dimopoulou talks to us about her work, her relationship with the local area, and her plans for the future. Mara is an artist, graduate of the Fine Arts School. She does paintings and installations and she’s the new member of Katheti’s team.
Tell us about your work.
I am an artist, painter, graduate of Fine Arts School. The decision to pursue this profession is one of the most conscious choices I have ever made. Painting is a difficult profession in terms of standard of living but at the same time so comforting that, personally, I find it almost difficult to classify it as a “job”.
What is your relationship with the local area?
I was born and raised on Poros. After a long 8-year absence from the island, I returned in order to stay here permanently.
How has crisis affected your work and your life and how do you deal with it?
Painting itself as a profession is quite saturated and the crisis found me when I was still a student at University. The choices have certainly been narrowed even further, but creativity has no limit. Crisis can make you inventive. Looking for a way to pursue a profession that is considered as “luxury” in times of crisis, you have to create new conditions for yourself. You become more flexible and this obviously has an impact on your life as well. You are swallowed up by many little things that are similar or irrelevant to one another, you become one-person-band. You recreate yourself through all of this.
Which of your knowledge and personality traits have been most useful to you in your professional life?
Knowledge in this profession helps you put in order what you already felt and perhaps knew. The enrichment of knowledge and the experience that comes with the years is the most useful tool. Also, the need to learn new things and techniques, and adapt them to me has helped me a lot in my career.
What would you like to improve in your personality or work? What are your weaknesses and how have they influenced you?
The biggest disadvantage that I think needs improvement is my stress. It can affect my work and my daily life on different levels. In a few cases only, it is to my benefit, as I perform quite well under stress, but most of the time, stress brings me toa standstill. In my work, I have now learned that you cannot conquer anything right away, it takes time. So, I just keep working and improving.
What would you do differently and what do you consider as right steps in your career?
Without my mistakes I would not have been here today. So, I would confidently use the cliché “I would do nothing differently”. Reflecting on my life, I am happy for the progress I have made. All I could possibly advise myself, knowing what I know now, would be to have entered the School of Fine Arts at an older age so that I could understand more than I did. As to what I consider as right steps in my career, I don’t feel the need to “pride myself” on something I have done yet, the road is long.
What piece of advice would you give to a young person who would like to do what you do?
We need people with dreams, creativity and honesty. Be one of them and do it humbly. If something has to be loud, this is the work that comes out of you, not you. Slug it out, it’s not easy but it’s definitely worth it. Serving art is a gift that is not granted but conquered, and the journey is so beautiful that you cannot give up.
What are your plans for the future, short-term and long-term ones?
There are lots of plans and even more ideas. We are preparing things, collaborations, lots of beautiful staff. I am preparing my solo exhibition in Athens in April and I am very excited about it. With Katheti we are also on the go for a group exhibition in the summer, with artists who are from or live in the area. I would not like to say much more about it yet, but I suspect that this artistic collaboration will bring out the best in us.
Tell us about the Painting Workshop that will run at Katheti.
I became a member of Katheti’s team lately and our cooperation is excellent. We decided to provide free painting lessons at Katheti in Galatas, for people who would like to learn how to paint or develop their drawing. All levels are welcome at the Painting Workshop and hopefully our meeting on Fridays will become a ritual. It is a venture we embark on with a lot of impetus and enthusiasm, and all we ask from those who subscribe to the Painting Workshop is positive attitude.
