“Sunday Afternoon”: The new exhibition of Nicole Economides. An exploration of memory, migration, and identity

Echoes from the past: A Family’s Transatlantic Nostalgia

The solo exhibition Sunday Afternoon by Greek-American artist Nicole Economides delves into themes of nostalgia, the concept of home and the quest for identity in a transatlantic context. This exhibition serves as a continuation of her earlier series, Illusion of a Home, as a Memory, and is being presented for the first time at Callirrhoë. Inspired by photographs her grandmother sent from Greece in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Sunday Afternoon captures the echoes of a distant past. These images hold the emotional weight of a family’s journey across cities, countries and continents.

llusion of home, as a memory (Keepsake), an emblematic painting from this series, features a note resting against the wall on two tin feta barrels. The note reads, “Here is the kitchen of the restaurant,” referencing family memories of running a restaurant as migrants in the USA.The challenges of navigating unfamiliar places are mirrored in the Greek writing on the photo—illegible to non-Greek speakers, just as English was the Economides family when moved to New York.

In the painting Sunday Afternoon nestled between more poignant pieces and vibrantly colored depictions of family life, Economides captures a captivating “in-between” stage. Here, the artist skillfully reflects duality, echoing the liminal space of the front and back of an original postcard. Visitors glimpse both the handwritten notes and the individuals they address, bridging intimate exchanges with vivid portrayals of family members. This piece lends its title to the exhibition and symbolizes the family time spent working together at their restaurant, where they welcomed other Greek families enjoying their time together. Additionally, this time together reflects the economic aspect of migration, as Sunday was a day for counting earnings and reflecting on prosperity.

The two large-scale paintings, Birthday Confetti and Fruit Agora as well as the grid of twelve smaller canvases entitled Birthday Blue evoke objects of remembrance, ensuring they are not forgotten by the part of the family that stayed home.  This composition can also be interpreted as a symbol of achievement, representing the resilience that required to leave home.

In Economides’ narrative, color transcends mere visual appeal, becoming a powerful storytelling device. The grid of twelve small canvases stands as a testament to color’s transformative role in memory. As images gradually fade across interconnected canvases, vibrant hues rise to the surface, engaging visitors with layers of memory and sensory experience. This intentional use of the grid serves as a visual metaphor for the nuanced journey of memory and familial history, inviting viewers into a contemplative space.

In Economides’ artistic expression, yellow and pink hues in the two large-scale paintings transcend the canvas, becoming emotive anchors in the broader family narrative. Warm yellows convey positivity and familial connection, while soft pinks suggest the delicate intertwining of personal histories.

Economides’ exploration of memory, migration, and identity transcends the personal, touching universal themes. Her storytelling becomes a poignant reminder that our journeys, marked by nostalgia and the quest for identity, are threads woven into the human condition. Despite our diverse paths, we share a longing for belonging, storytelling and emotional connection.