Aspa Stasinopoulou, Untitled

Inspired by Ancient Greek sculpture

Stasinopoulou’s inspiration for the piece came from the sculpture Jockey of Artemision. The Hellenistic sculpture was discovered in Artemision, north Evia, and dates back to 140 BC. Today is it exhibited at the National Archaeological Museum.

In admirable balance

The figure and movement of the horse/sculpture is the central theme of the composition.

The contour of the horse’s head and the strong lines of its running legs emerge through violent colour. In turn, colour swirls boldly around the entire surface of the piece.

The calm blue light of the horizontal neon line represents the loose bridle. It lights the gap to the left, adding to the balance of the composition.

Stasinopoulou does create a balanced whole, through:

• The stark black outline of the horse.
• The fluorescent light.
• The expressionist use of bold colours.

Her life in a nutshell

Aspa Stasinopoulou (1935-2017) was born in Athens. She studied Painting at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts of Paris (1959-1963). There she met Yiannis Tsarouchis, with whom she formed a friendship and an artistic bond. Between 1969 and 1974 she lived and worked in London.

Artistic style

The basis of Stasinopoulou’s works is the expressionist gestural painting. Meaning, the application of colour with free-hand gestures. It is a tool of abstract expressionism, which reveals the artist’s emotions through the recording of movement.

Gradually, the artist enriched her works with the use of photography and other visual media.

Unexpected materials

In Stasinopoulou’s works, everyday materials co-exist with evidence of the present. The balance between them is peculiar and provocative.

From early on, she handled materials such as iron, cloth, nails, boards, colour, neon lights and transparencies.

Printouts play a key role in her pieces:

• On fabric or paper.
• On wooden furniture or boxes.
• On used cans.
• Stored inside glass containers or bottles.

Social critique

With her frequently peculiar technique, Stasinopoulou was able to reflect sides of modern social consideration.

The photographs that she incorporated in her works depict scenes from:

• Political current affairs.
• Social unrest.
• Youthful resistance.
• Military violence.

Once printed on the receiving surfaces, these images are transformed. They understate, ridicule or simply retransmit their message.

An unconventional interpretation of Ancient Greek sculpture

In more recent phases of her work, the artist created pieces inspired by Ancient Greek sculptures. These are mainly memorial statues of the Classical and Hellenistic periods.

She creatively incorporated this material in artistic actions, by interpreting it in an unconventional manner.

The artist herself had said: “A sculpture belongs to the things we are taught to love. Then, we forget them, only to discover them again through other channels.”

Indeed, in her works, past 1990, she designed, created and recreated figures or sections of ancient sculptures. This was her way of introducing them to her own, unique universe.

A recognised artist

Stasinopoulou has held many solo exhibitions in Greece and abroad (Amsterdam and London). At the same time, she participated in many group exhibitions (Athens, London, Washington, etc.). She represented Greece in the São Paulo Biennale in 1985.

In 2009 Benaki Museum hosted a large retrospective exhibition of the artist. On the occasion of this event, AICA Hellas honoured Stasinopoulou with the grand off-competition award.

Stasinopoulou in the Alpha Bank Art Collection

The Alpha Bank Art Collection also features another large assemblage by Aspa Stasinopoulou. It is the piece titled Nike III, from 1993.

The 2 works in the Collection redefine iconic works of Ancient Greek sculpture. The transfer and interpretation of these 2 works to the present reference both classical and modern art.

The work of art in our publications

Untitled by Aspa Stasinopoulou is referenced in the following Alpha Bank publications:

• The Alpha Bank Collection. Greek Art from 1920 until Today, edited by Irene Orati. The publication accompanied the Art Collection’s exhibition at the Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art in Thessaloniki.
  Buy the publication The Alpha Bank Collection. Greek Art from 1920 until Today on the Alpha Bank eshop.
• Mazi magazine (issue 44, February 2018).

Untitled hangs at the Merlin Alpha Bank branch (6 Merlin Street, Athens). It can be accessed during the branch days and hours of operation.

Research visits can be organised upon request.
Contact us to book your visit.