Melissanthi Spei (melissanthispei.com), after her studies in London and many collaborations abroad, returned to Greece. She is an artist who delves into the subject of tradition and seeks a new and fresh approach to folklore, proposing artistic creations that explore the body from a different perspective. For the time being, she creates bespoke pieces for shows, exhibitions, video clips, or theatre plays.
The modern version of greek folk
The central core of my work is the influence of folk art and cultural heritage, mainly Greek. Our popular “folk” culture is very rich, which is not well known abroad. Having lived abroad for several years, during both my studies and my years as a professional, I can tell there is always the stereotype that Greece is culturally connected only to antiquity. So I wanted to present another aspect of our cultural heritage, such as traditional carnivals, crafts, folk motifs and symbolisms with a more modern look that brings us to society and its present needs.
The female figure
What has attracted me to the female figure so far is the femininity and the fragile part that tends to be considered synonymous with the female gender. Of course, this is expressed in many ways in our time and generation and is not necessarily represented by the traditional female form.
When I decided to get involved in fashion at a very young age, what attracted me most was the idea to work with the female body. Having my own body as a basic guide, I worked on many pieces and chose materials and elements I identified with personally.
During my postgraduate studies in London, I was also attracted to the femininity of the masculine gender. Since then, this aspect has significantly evolved in my work and on a broader range. It is constantly evolving and changing as I pay closer attention to the needs of identification of our generation.
READ THE FULL INTERVIEW INTO THE MAGAZINE
CREDITS:
Interview:
Ira Sinigalia
Photos:
Courtesy of Melissanthi Spei