7 Questions à Madlen Angelopoulos

Picture of the grec artist Madlen Angelopoulos

Hello Madlen, where do you currently live?

Hello, nice to meet you!

First of all, I would like to thank you for this great opportunity. I live in Athens and currently reside in the city center. I find that its combined historical, cultural and contemporary elements make Athens a city with a unique character. It also allows you to have a good lifestyle… or at least, before the pandemic. There are so many aspects to love, it's as vibrant as it is beautiful!

Madlen is a lovely name. What is its meaning?

Thank you very much, I'm glad you like my name! It's funny because Madlen is actually not my name in Greek! It's a nickname I chose when I created my international portfolio and it's also my name in Swedish. In Greek, my name is "Μαγδαληνή" like Mary Magdalene in French.

have you ever visited or exhibited in Paris?

Yes, I had the chance to travel to France and visit Paris, however, I have not yet exhibited there, even if I would like to one day, why not? Paris is a city you fall in love with!

Living in Paris is like living in a fairy tale. Architecture, museums, galleries, fashion… art is everywhere! Plus, the food is absolutely fantastic! I also respect the French relationship with food. It's not just about consuming calories to survive...it's a unique art form for you ;). And that's something I can really relate to.

I know, I probably look like a Parisian groupie! But can you blame me (laughs)?

What do you want to express through your paintings?

I would say one of the things that has always intrigued me the most is people watching. I find that by looking at someone's face you can trace repressed feelings and emotions that language is not always able to express. This is why most of my paintings are anthropocentric and mainly feature faces and figures. Through my art, I aim to represent the unexplored human emotion in which we all hide. Human lives can be chaotic and this leads many of us to bottle up our feelings. One could describe what I paint as dramatic, theatrical and surreal. I think that’s the influence that fashion photography, and my studies in fashion design in general, had on me.

What vision do you have of women artists in the world of contemporary art?

I am very optimistic about the position of women artists in contemporary art. I honestly feel lucky to be an artist in this time, and not have to go through what women artists have gone through in the past. That being said, I cannot ignore the fact that women still have a big void to fill. Recognition has always been a male privilege and art history is filled mostly with men (very talented men at that, but still!). This must change.

Modern women are gradually regaining their place in the art world. The democratization of art and the acceptance of the obvious right to expression and creation, without distinction of sex and nationality, means that modern women have, more than ever, the possibility of being present, of to be bold, to be heard.

You are a very beautiful young woman, have you encountered any obstacles in the art world as a woman artist, or have you had indecent offers to gain some notoriety in this environment?

Although I believe that women today have the same opportunities as men, the harassing behavior that we experience has not disappeared. Unfortunately, I have been exposed to such behavior several times during my career. Behaviors that may seem innocent at first glance but can be very hurtful and degrading... some examples: a coffee unrelated to a stranger's work to "get to know you better", a non-existent job offer to "spend some time with you”, or a job involving a direct exchange offer… (not of a monetary nature). As I grew older, I learned to deal with this type of thing better and to avoid it as much as possible. However, it is extremely sad that a modern woman still has to develop such defense mechanisms and still has to deal with this kind of abject objectification. Sexism, make no mistake, remains a very real problem. More and more women, and not just in the arts, are speaking out about their experiences with sexist behavior. As a person, and as a female artist, I think we should not be afraid to speak out, openly discuss and condemn such incidents, to better help eradicate them.

A mentor?

I studied graphic design at West Attica University (uniwa). There, I had the chance to meet and have as a teacher the painter and scenographer Elena Navrozidou. She is a remarkable woman who captivated my interest from the moment I first met her, full of confidence and elegance, with a fashion-forward sense of style (I'll never forget the orange bob strict that she wore when I first met her! His whole being moved me, and at the same time triggered my curiosity. Experiencing her work made this woman even more special to me. In the atmospheric worlds she creates, full of color and reminders of bygone eras, she places women front and center. Her heroines are strong, sexual and imposing. In my eyes, she praises feminine nature and is not afraid to expose herself in her works (much of her work involves self-portraits). As a teacher, she was always present, polite and had a special way of pushing you to find and improve yourself. I haven't seen her in years, but her presence is still very vivid in my mind and her energy continues to influence my work.

I owe him a large part of the freedom of expression that I have today as a woman and as a person!