“Christina Morali’s…. Tsarouchia!”: a new exhibition at Skoufa gallery

Christina Morali created a unique setting with shinny tsarouchia, adorned with rich tassels in vivid red or the traditional black color

Electra Art Space by Skoufa Gallery, at the Electra Metropolis Hotel, hosts a new exhibition by the well-known and very imaginative ceramist Christina Morali, with pieces of work from the most important periods of her career as well as with new creations executed with renewed enthusiasm in sophisticated forms, often with a slight ‘twist’.

The main subject of the exhibition is the Tsarouchi which is Morali’s latest trademark, in the same way as it was before it the dekara (the dime), the industrial consuming products, the Papadopoulos biscuits, etc. These ceramic or metal creations successfully sealed an era in which the artist allowed herself to draw inspiration from the pop art’s dynamic imagery.

At this small but very inviting space in the heart of Athens, among tourists and locals who come and go in a rush, Christina Morali created a unique setting with shinny tsarouchia, adorned with rich tassels in vivid red or the traditional black color. Banners and other ceramic installations frame the tsarouchia, whereas one wonders whether her tsarouchia are just like those worn by the presidential guards.

Indisputably, they belong to her latest ‘version’ of tsarouchia. Next to them, one can find other interesting objects: vases in the shape of an Evzone’s chubby calf, made of white porcelain so as to look like a white sock. There are pitchers with ‘distorted’, elongated necks as well as serving platters inspired by Greek traditional embroideries and a ‘dekara’ (dime) table. Last but not least, one can admire Morali’s hanging towels, which deceitfully look as if they are made of a light fabric rather than clay.

Overall, the exhibition does not have a single theme but the common feature of all artworks is a strong Greek Identity.

Talking about her work, the artist explains that: ‘Essentially, it is a ‘conversation’ with the same material used in various ways and the result of experimentations with forms and objects during a resting period following an exhibition’s intense demands and, while at the time, I felt the urge to ‘talk’ about something ‘important’. All this became a pleasant intermediate stage that only the future will demonstrate if it will continue. I believe that in life we should not be serious all the time; we should make room for amusement ‘games’, humor and satire, which are all equally essential.