In Love – Love in Art

On Friday, 14 February 2025 at 19.30, Sianti Gallery is presenting a group exhibition titled “In Love: Love in Art”, curated by art historian Hera Papapostolou.

Love is a deep and complex emotion associated with attraction, passion and tenderness between two people. But in recent years, it is being shaped almost completely by social changes, technology and the fast pace of modern life. Thus, the question “What is Love?” keeps coming to the forefront as we strive to find an answer through various art forms. 

Robert Graves in his poetry expresses various surrounding questions, such as “Does it have to do with the return to our center, to the familiar core of innocence, still full of trust? Is it the primal and wild outburst of our existence, an effort to take radical measures in order to reach omniscience just for a few hours? Is it the ancient vision, which shines on our path full of dangerous omens, calling upon the timely intervention of death?

Everyone has struggled with this question at some point of their lives, a fact which motivated Sianti Gallery to organize a group exhibition. Twety-seven contemporary Greek artists, painters and sculptors – well known, as well as younger ones – are portraying Love in their own way. Large, as well as medium scale paintings, along with large and medium scale sculptures, like love sonnets, compose the most erotic exhibition of the year.

Hera Papapostolou, curator of the exhibition, notes in the catalogue of the exhibition:

“For neurologist-psychiatrist Mattheos Josaphat, things are quite clear: ‘Love is the projection of our needs on other people who, we hope, will fulfill them. And because we want them to fulfill them, we idolize them, believing they are the ones we want. […] Love is our only chance of compensating for everything our mother and father didn’t give us.’ On the other hand, had there not been this inner need, we wouldn’t have so many books, poems, sculptures, music, choreographies, plays and paintings. All because Love inspires us, and has been at the core of artistic work throughout the centuries”.

In any case, love is a power, which can give meaning to our lives, while, at the same time, it may very well fill us with uncertainty, pain and tension. And for this reason, the artworks are sometimes peaceful and dreamy, and sometimes harsh and surreal. Yet, through them, we can see our inner self. How each artist experiences this intense and contradicting journey, is something, which comes to light through the “In Love: Love in Art” exhibition” where Love takes on different shapes and colors.