Alexandra Kapogianni-Beth — Contemporary Art Curator Magazine

May 1

May 1 Alexandra Kapogianni-Beth

Biography

Alexandra Kapogianni-Beth, art historian and sculptor, started out painting and drawing and has been producing material objects for about 15 years now. The last eight years she’s mainly sculpted. Since 1998 she has attended art and sculpting courses in and out of Germany; most recently she completed a sculptor degree at the art school IBKK in Bochum, West Germany. Alexandra is a dynamic artist with an incredible artistic production, the use of materials such as rock, plaster and clay allows her a manipulation that creates living and energetic works.

Artist Statement

For my pieces of art I use a wide range of raw materials, making use of the perspectives of a Greek artist now living in Germany. My own experience here and there, and the unique histories of both countries force and allow me to choose and connect what I assume to serve my intentions best. When considering my objects, I’m focussed on turning dead materials, as hard rock or soft matter as gypsum and clay, into something vivid that offers a contrast between unhewn surfaces with soft flowing worked surfaces. Greek history over the millennia offers a wide range of impulses. Heroism beyond human limits and multitudes of mythological actors, and all their visualization by other artists, find their way into the sculptures that I design and produce. The delight I enjoy, hopefully finds its way to the beholder and stimulates their reflections of what they see and experience.

What first prompted you to think of becoming an artist?

Art has been part of my life since I was a child. I began drawing at a very young age and participated at local competitions then. Later on, I discovered that sculpting was something I liked even more to do. I allowed myself a long time of learning and experimenting with different materials such as soft clay or hard stone. Only in the last few years, I felt ready to present my art to a wider audience.

The intensity of me producing art has changed over the years, but I always felt like being an artist is part of myself.

What kind of an artist do you ultimately see yourself?

I am a figurative sculptor, who takes inspiration mainly from Greek history which over the millennia offers a wide range of impulses. Heroism beyond human limits and multitudes of mythological actors find their way into my sculptures. I am very passionate about exploring the bodies of humans and animals alike. And I love turning dead materials, as hard rock or soft matter as gypsum and clay, into something vivid.

What are you hoping to communicate to the viewer through your work?

My pieces always express a certain tension, something that I experience regularly, being a Greek artist now living in Germany. My own experience here and there, and the unique histories of both countries produce requirements and necessities to make diverging properties work in harmony.

I would like to tickle the viewer’s imagination. With my art I do not give any answers, I would like to cause questions. I like to make the viewer think about what they are seeing and possibly even question themselves.

Can you explain the process of creating your work?

Generally, a fleeting thought provides a starting point for a faint idea that slowly gains momentum until it is solid enough to be turned in an initial drawing, and from there the manufacturing processes evolve.

I work figuratively and generally without any original. Planning is therefore the major challenge and comes along with a certain anxiety if and how the idea can possibly become reality. While sculpting I rely mostly on graphic anatomic drawings, which leaves me with the freedom to go beyond reality to see and build a body.

What is your favorite part of the creative process?

It is an awesome feeling to finally lean back and see my sculpture being what I have imagined it to become and I especially like the moment when I have reached the point to finalize the texture on the surface of my sculpture when every single piece of clay that I put on matters.

Can you give us an insight into current projects and inspiration, or what we can look forward to from you in the near future?

I am currently working on two female sculptures… the one representing a goddess from Greek antiquity yet coming out of my imagination and the other taken from a real-life model, which is more an experiment than usual practice for me. They both do not seem to be connected but both grow from the theme “Eternal Femininity” of the upcoming Florence Biennale (23-31 Oct. 2021), where I will be presenting about five of my sculptures. And since most of the of exhibitions and art fairs for which I am already registered were postponed due to Covid 19 it seems that this autumn will become a very busy season: I will be exhibiting my work also at Paris, Eindhoven, Luxembourg and Wiesbaden in Germany.

Website www.bildhauerwerke-ak.de

Instagram www.instagram.com/kapogiannibeth

Facebook www.facebook.com/bildhauerwerke