Eleni Kotsoni is a visual artist based in Athens and has previously lived in Rhodes, Lausanne, Paris, Barcelona, ​​and Copenhagen. Her installations resemble three-dimensional mosaics, often composed of assembled fragments (spolia) from various materials. These heterogeneous fragments evolve in unexpected directions, challenging the boundaries of the artwork and transforming her paintings into spaces. Often, her installations are ongoing, becoming a meeting point or activity field where viewers are encouraged to engage.

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Eleni Kotsoni references archeology, sourcing imagery that blends  geometric abstraction  with patterns collected from pre-classical antiquity and abstract ancient Greek art. In this context, the pre-classical period, before the installation of patriarchy and the rise of realistic imagery, reflects a time when precision was not the dominant need.

 

Eleni Kotsoni often uses dispersed knitted patterns, expressing how canvases can expand in a three-dimensional form. The repeated and unlimited gesture branches out in a natural order, interrupting any architectural structure. Often, installations contain fragmented messages and the sculpture-spaces become text-objects.

Eleni Kotsoni views artwork as a transitional object—an event in itself, rather than something created or presented with a clear beginning and end. The gesture and craft serve as a bridge between the need for security and the desire for interaction. Ultimately, the situation, the body, and the space of the work become an alibi for exchange and communication.

 

​Eleni Kotsoni’s abstract world challenges contemporary ubiquitous iconologies, very central in our everyday life. This activates optical feelings that are apart from any symbolism, reference or cultural context.