Eleni Mylonas

2011

Painting, 107 x 76 cm.
Materials: oil, canvas

Collection: National Museum of Contemporary Art, Athens - Donated by the Artist.

"The inspiration for these works came from a series of news photos of the improvised helmets worn by the Arab Spring demonstrators that I encountered on line. The inventive home-made protective head gear so captivated me that I made a series of graphite drawings followed by a series of paintings based on the photos, identifying with the demonstrators but also with the photographers in the field. Eventually I was compelled to emulate the protestors by placing a variety of objects upon my own head, an array of plastic detritus salvaged from the littered beaches near my house. I morphed into personalities dictated by those objects, shattering preconceptions with humor and respect. Blown up to approximately six feet my head is further abstracted, as if to emphasize that the function of my presence is simply to act as a ground across which a parade of other identities can be glimpsed. The series culminated in the 'Delalis' video performance which celebrates 'Everyman'." 

— Eleni Mylonas