Evie Hassiotis, Sitsa, 2019, mixed media on wood, 95 x 79cm, photo: supplied
August 3 - September 27, 2020
Opening event:
Sunday, August 9, 2-4pm
Artist talk:
Friday, August 21, 5:30-6:30pm
Showing as a part of SALA Festival
concurrently with Face up, Yana Lehey
Please join us in The Mill Showcase gallery for SALA exhibition Xenitia a solo exhibition by Evie Hassiotis
Roughly translated, Xenitia means self imposed exile. This project explores Greek migration to Australia during the 1950’s, speaking from Evie’s personal experience alongside the experiences of her family and friends. Evie has investigated the impact of migration, following narratives through the generations in order to more deeply understand how culture is transmitted and how migrant families have built communities and culture in Australia. Evie’s expressive multi-arts practice builds layers of understanding through the use of collage and paint alongside dolls made by individuals within her community, and a film ‘Made in Greece’. She speaks about community, identity and the role of art in the understanding of the self.
***The Mill’s galleries have reopened to the public following government guidelines, please observe social distancing and make sure to practice good hygiene. ***
Artist statement:
This project explores the migration period that saw my family and many Greek migrants come to Australia mainly by passenger ships. It is about wanting to see what is happening now to those migrants and their children and grandchildren and how the contribution of these people has made a big difference in Australian culture and economy.
Many of my artworks are multilayered and I keep adding layers until the piece is finished. I have created some artworks relating to my own grief experience of being forced to leave my small community in Northern Greece to come to live in Adelaide in 1964. Producing this body of work has been a healing and transformative process for me, and has also allowed me to investigate how others have navigated life after migration.
Artists biography:
Evie Hassiotis is an Adelaide based artist who works intuitively with textures and mixed media, photography and improvised dance. Evie believes in the potential of art to emotionally heal the human soul and to promote spiritual growth in the art practitioner and in the viewer. Improvised movement together with her art practice have been an avenue to express spirituality, creativity and art as a healing practice.
Evie began her art studies while living in Sydney in 1995 at the Bondi Road Art School. These classes ignited her enthusiasm for the visual arts and she is indebted to her inspiring tutors at Bondi for guiding her into the world of art. In 2019 she undertook Life Drawing classes at Central School of Art. She joined The Mill as a studio artist in February 2019 and has continued her develop her art practice there, including hosting regular open studio events as well as conducting art workshops for beginners and those people who want to tap into their latent creativity.
Evie has worked as a facilitator of art workshops for adults, including those living with dementia and has experience working with people in residential and community care. In her workshops she creates a space for participants to express themselves without fear of judgment and encourages participants to reveal their inner landscape using a variety of media. She currently works in a primary school with 5-9 year old students with learning challenges
Evie is currently working on an exhibition Xenitia, to be shown at The Mill during SALA 2020. Xenitia, meaning exile, explores the theme of migration of children and their families and centres around Evie’s experience of migrating to Australia from Greece in 1964 when she was 6 years old. The exhibition will include installation of handmade dolls, film and mixed media artworks.
Evie has exhibited as part of the Mitcham Art Prize, Victor Harbor Art Show, Walkerville Art Exhibition, The Hapmsted Rehabilitation Centre, SALA 2019 at Gallery One, and a solo exhibition Bitten by Bologna at Rusco & Brusco as well as hosting exhibitions from her home studio and her studio at The Mill.