The Paddocks Gallery is pleased to present Viktoria Nianiou‘s first solo gallery exhibition, One Castle with Two Suns, Many Horses and Few Dreams. The exhibition concludes the artist’s participation in the Artist Residency Programme organized by the gallery and features a series of new works created during her one-month stay in Volos.
Landscapes, horses and sunsets comprise the core narrative of the exhibition – elements that are familiar to the artist’s work, revisited through new influences. Drawing inspiration from interacting with horses and the natural scenery of Pelion, Viktoria begins by writing: “We arrived at a beach, Just as the sun was going down, The sunset was pink, wonderful…”.
Pink at sundown, orange at dawn, a void in between; One Castle with Two Suns, Many Horses and Few Dreams explores what the space between sunset and sunrise permits. A poetic narrative wavering between dream and reality, the exhibition explores an emotion that is primitive, common and profoundly human – the fear of being in the dark, which carries a sense of uncertainty and danger.
Following the Sun’s path from the moment it “vanishes” in the sea until it reappears, the story unfolds as the light fades. The horses are the main characters of the exhibition. Although, historically, horses symbolise strength and freedom, they are also vulnerable, wary and constantly alert. They hardly sleep, so they rarely dream.
The constant search for security remedies the castle; “This is what I’ve been looking for all this time, But I couldn’t see it, I only saw it when the sun came out, The sky turned orange, wonderful…”. Inspired by a childhood drawing of the artist’s youngest sister, the castle becomes a shelter, offering a sense of safety against possible dangers. Dreamlike compositions, serene colours, places that are specific and abstract at the same time; the works in the exhibition offer an exploration of basic emotions.
Warm thanks to Ipotis Riding Club for the support of the project, to Domna Schoulli and Ioulia Tsiavou.
