méta, is a collaborative project by Kanella Arapoglou and Manos Chatzikonstantis, which began in spring 2020 and was first exhibited in 2021.
The two creators worked independently from one another, utilising their respective artistic tools. The outcome is a series of photographic works themed around transition, the nature of time and personal memory.
Kanella Arapoglou has encompassed embroidery into her visual language, using traditional techniques, with unexpected and subversive results that question stereotypes. Manos Chatzikonstantis employs photography on a personal level by attempting to understand and map memories and occurrences affected by the passing of time.
Their collaboration began through Kanella’s idea to creatively intervene on the leaves, untimely falling off one of her plants. These ephemeral works functioned as a trigger to Manos, who, observing them over time, recorded their transition to a subsequent state. This exchange, the dialogue between the two artists that resulted in their collective works, manifested a meta-collaboration of sorts, an amalgam of techniques.
Kanella Arapoglou
www.kanella.com // info@kanella.com
Born and raised in Athens. Studied graphic design at the Technical Institute of Athens and moved on to post-graduate studies in Communication Design at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London. After her graduation, she remained in London working as an art director in the music and publishing industry. Upon her return to Athens, she founded Kanella, her own creative practice, focussing on corporate identity, pattern design as well as packaging. At the same time, she was a visiting tutor at the University of Western Attica in the Graphics Design department.
Her work as a visual artist, merges design with fine art creating original pieces, installations and artistic interventions in interior spaces. Embroidery has long been a part of Kanella’s visual vocabulary, she appropriates this craft to create contemporary art pieces with an interweaved visual narrative.
Her work has been featured among others at The Benaki Museum, Athens Municipality Arts Center, Santorini Biennale of Arts, The Art Foundation and Piree. Her artworks are also part of private collections.
Manos Chatzikonstantis
www.manosch.net // mail@manosch.net
Born in Athens, he studied mechanical engineering at the RWTH in Aachen, Germany, before shifting his interest to photography. Having worked as a photographer in Germany and Athens for a number of years, he eventually moved to the UK where he now lives, sharing his time and work between London and Athens.
He's a storytelling and still-life photographer, working with publishers worldwide.
His personal photographic work examines the notion of time and the relation between image and commemoration.
His images have been featured, among others, at the Athens Month of Photography, the V&A Museum, the RIBA, Photo London, the Four Corners Gallery and photography festivals.
