| Galerie
Mariska Dirkx Wilhelminasingel 67 NL-6041 CH Roermond Tel/Fax +31-(0)475-317137 Mobile +31(0)6-54927759 Email: galerie.dirkx@wxs.nl |
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Curriculum Vitae
GRANTS /SCHOLARSHIPS |
Effie Halkidis about Effie Halkidis Spirit, Sense and Nature Effie Halkidis has been living and working in the Netherlands since 1993. Arriving from Australia with a background in Glass studies Effie continued to study at the Gerrit Rietveld Academie in the Netherlands, since 1998 she has established her own studio in Amsterdam. Effie’s work encompasses the themes of communication, displacement and the construction of one’s identity. She focuses on the boundaries within culture, inspired by the themes of conflict, Icons and religion. Her work explores dialogue as a form of cultural exchange; the means to pass knowledge from generation to generation. ‘’In ‘Whispers’ I’m exploring the means of dialogue by referring to facial expressions. The piece forms a pictorial line of generation upon generation passing on knowledge and information –documenting the past and the present. The facial expressions are mineralised by only showing the mouths. Once the faces have faded away only the words remain.’’ The Greek orthodox use of icons provides her with symbols for different body forms. These are a reflection of her old culture; icons and talismans referring to her cultural background being Greek Australian’’ These symbols are used in church in order to pray for someone who is ill in the hope that they will improve for example one would pray at a leg icon if suffering a leg illness. The cast and polished blocks of eyes, legs and hands are constructing a person glass from parts. This incomplete person refers to displacement Displacement can be experienced in a change of environment when adapting to a new culture. This can occur both at physical and emotional level. Effie places the mouths, the imaginary faces in a thick block of glass to protect their identity. In turn the isolation of the glass blocks protects the human space. The majority of her work is made of crystal or optical glass, using the lost wax casting technique then cut and polished, in some cases the work is hot formed or blown if necessary Her spirit stones are another form of icon. She uses the eye as a powerful religious and spiritual symbol in her work. She focuses on volume and depth of transparent glass. Effie has exhibited extensively in Europe, Australia, and USA She has been guest artist in the Swedish and Hungarian glass symposium, has received scholarships to study in the glass school in Seattle. Her work is in private and public collections in Europe , Australia and USA. Publications: 2002 Art nl. Glaszomer 2002,art nl-3 pg 10 International Glashaus magazine-2/2002 pg 15 Neues Glas Magazine – 33 Years Rietveld Academie Glassmovement.nl catalogue- Gemeentearchief Amsterdam 2001 Glas bulletin nr.2 Vereniging van Vrienden van Modern glas, 2000 This side up, 3/2001, pg 32 1999 Rietveld naar de Beurs , Beurs van Berlage , catalogue. 1998 This side up glass Congratulated exhibition catalogue, Ebeltoft Glasmuseum Denmark 1994 Neus Glass Magazine, Swedish Glass Symposium. Glassmaking in Australia, author -Norris Ioannou. 1990 Craft Arts Australia magazine, Jam Factory workshops, pg 17 |