Keramea’s works playfully blur the boundaries between two and three dimensions, inviting viewers into a tactile and intellectual exploration of form, surface, and space. Through her inventive techniques and interactive installations, she invites audiences to engage with her work in a deeply personal and exploratory way, turning the act of viewing into an unfolding participatory experience.
Her practice is deeply rooted in the manipulation of surfaces. She folds, cuts, and sews paper into modular units, assembling them into complex, flexible sculptures that often evoke natural forms like moths – embodying themes of transformation and fragility. Keramea developed an innovative intaglio printmaking technique ‘Zoetype’ that transfers images from worked metal plates onto paper through a woven cloth matrix, allowing for a greater range of tonal and textural effects.
© Courtesy of the artist
Which place do you currently call home and where do you work on your projects?
I live in Athens, in Paleo Faliro, by the sea, seven minutes away from the center of Athens by car. It used to be a summer resort for the wealthy Athenians, with hundreds of eclectic villas dotting the hills overlooking the sea. Only a few of these survived by the surrounding appartment blocks. Paleo Faliro is now part of the vast metropolitan area of Athens which expands in all directions, towards the surrounding mountains and the sea.
When I was ten years old my parents moved to this area from the city center where I first grew up. I have lived in the building where I now have my workshop, on and off, since I was twelve years old. However, I do work everywhere I am, and all the places I live are workshops as much as homes.
© This is Athens
Do you have a favourite place in your area where you like to relax and linger?
A short walk by the waterfront is always regenerating throughout the year. All around Athens, there are sixty five outdoor summer cinemas. There are two in the neighborhood to go to: Cine Flisvos and Cine Alimos. They are both municipal theaters and are both next to the water. Cine Alimos is especially charming as its screen is inflated every day for the film screening and deflated every night! It shows a great variety of classic cinema.
There is also the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center by Renzo Piano which includes the National Library of Greece, the Opera House and a wonderful park. From the terrace, called Faros, one has a splendid view of the Saronic Gulf and its islands as well as the entire metropolitan area of Athens.
A really beautiful Museum, part of the Benaki Museum, is the Toy Museum housed in an old castellated villa looking as if it came out of a fairy tail.
In the opposite direction towards Sounion one can go for a swim in Voula or Vouliagmeni. I enjoy emptying my mind through long stretches of meditative swimming. The sea is warm from May till November but you can also visit for a swim the Vouliagmeni Lake where the hot water springs mingle with sea water for year round swimming in a magical landscape.
Searching for materials for different projects is also a relaxing activity. Wandering in the old commercial triangle of Athens in the center of the city spreading out from the foot of the Acropolis – between Mitropoleos, Stadiou and Athinas streets – can be a delight. In the triangle, although as we speak increasingly threatened by gentrification – endless bars, restaurants and small hotels are everywhere – one can still find treasures.
It is a struggle between the imperatives of mass tourism and the needs of small manufacturers and artisans. Small old shops and manufacturing businesses coexist with wholesale and retail stores selling hardware and electrical supplies, jewelry supplies, beads, ribbons, fabrics, boxes, wrapping materials, paints and varnishes, tools, houseware, custom upholsterers, pillow, mattress and curtains shops, traditional hand made baskets, beeswax candles, sisal mats and carpets. The real treasures are found in the labyrinth of small side streets – one has to wander around. Interacting with the remaining small shop keepers can give you an idea of a vanishing humane world.
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Are there any urgent political issues or problems in your region?
Pressing problems are the ongoing efforts to privatize sectors of the economy such as public land, transport, health and education. Also the problem of underfunding and understaffing the public sector in the fields of education and health.
Organized measures are needed to prevent the constantly occurring and upcoming catastrophes due to human error as well as climate change.
In your opinion, what has developed well in the last 5 years – and what has not?
Greeks have now finally the choice to marry whoever they wish and also to dispose of their bodies after death as they wish, which was not the case with either in earlier years. Unfortunately, the pandemic and social media addiction has greatly shortened the population’s attention span.
Do you know a hidden gem when it comes to local manufacturers – whether it’s arts and crafts, sustainable products or food?
Seasonal organic produce by Zarganis Biofarm from nearby Euboea, is available all over Athens in selected shops.
Bizios Estate, organic winery at the highest point in the Nemea region where the indigenous variety of Agiorgitiko comes from. Elias Bizios, a second generation winemaker, makes an extraordinary red wine from the Agiorgitiko grape as well as excellent white and rosé from different varieties.
Is there anything particularly innovative in your region? Also in comparison to other places you have already visited?
The Athens subway is very clean though much smaller and less entertaining than the one I take in New York City…
Do you have a secret restaurant tip that you would like to share with us?
The Pezoulas Fish Tavern on Pissistartou street 11 at the Faliro Delta is a third generation family business established in 1951 run by wonderful people. One can enjoy the freshest local fish and seafood in an indoor and outdoor dining area.
Is there a local shop whose products are only available in your region?
– The Benaki Museum shops, on Kriezotou 3 and Pireos 138, have a large selection of objects made by greek designers, artisans and artists.
– The Naxos Apothecary on Kolokotroni 3-5 & Voulis, in the center of Athens, sells on the upper floor a wide selection of greek traditional medicinal herbs. One can drink the infusions in situ at the bar or buy the herbs and enjoy them at home.
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What are your 3 favourite apps that you use every day and couldn’t live without?
– camera app on my iPad to document daily stages of my work.
Do you have any favourite newspapers or online magazines? And how do you keep up to date with politics or social and cultural issues?
Very consciously I do not have a television, never want one around me. I read the news online and get information about all issues from different sites from a broad spectrum of political opinion such as: tvxs, Kathimerini, The Press Project, New York Times, naked capitalism, The Art Newspaper, culturenow, ARTnews, HYPERALLERGIC, instagram and many others.
Imagine you could be mayor for a year – what would you change?
Planting trees everywhere would be very important, not only in the city but also on the surrounding mountains which have suffered from the repeated fires in the last years. I would ban the recorded music in restaurants and coffee shops. They add to the noise pollution of the city and disturb any conversation you might want to have with your companions. The sounds of the city or the sounds of the sea, if one is by the coast, are a much better background noise for any conversation. I would sharply control the permits of new restaurants and bars in the city center, especially in areas where too many are located next to each other driving out traditional commerce. In addition to the current odd-even license regime, one might control the daily traffic jams through real time regulation of traffic light duration.
© This is Athens
One last question: If you could choose another place to live – regardless of financial or time constrains – which one would you choose?
By an uncrowded and clean sea, where I could swim and do my work every day.
© Courtesy of the artist
