CHRISTINA KATRAKIS
ARTIST, CURATOR, AUTHOR, PHILANTROPIST AND MORE...
THE SERIES OF PAINTING
Omen - Institute of Modern Art
Perhaps due to my natural "gypsy" predisposition for travel, I am forever fascinated by maps, their layout, their tantalizing lore, and their enigmatic symbolism. What do they stand for, how can just few inches on the piece of paper symbolize hundreds of miles or real space, land, life? Maps exert power on the psyche: they bear the promise of a wondrous journey.
THE ZONE
his is perhaps the most poignant of my mnemonic series. On April 26 1986, when the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant No. 4 exploded, I was in a village some 15 miles away. We were evacuated a week later, but by then I was severely radiated and developed a tumor in my throat. I spent nearly 2 years recovering from the surgery, but the radiation affected my body forever.
Mapping It Out
Perhaps due to my natural "gypsy" predisposition for travel, I am forever fascinated by maps, their layout, their tantalizing lore, and their enigmatic symbolism. What do they stand for, how can just few inches on the piece of paper symbolize hundreds of miles or real space, land, life? Maps exert power on the psyche: they bear the promise of a wondrous journey.
CAVIAR
Caviar - The Map of Eastern Promises is in the permanent collection of Brooks Museum of Art, USA. The work portrays the body of a woman in the shape of the Sea of Kyiv, damaged by Chernobyl Explosion (large lake-like water deposit which connects Kyiv with the Zone). The area around it is a map of the Zone, with the soviet collage of caviar factory workers. Yet caviar produced by them is in the shape of embryos, since the explosion damaged female reproduction function and brought upon born-defects in babies. Such was the result of the mythical "Eastern Promises". The artist knows this firsthand, after a number of tragic miscarriages and her child's death as a result of her own exposure to radiation.
CURATOR & COORDINATOR
Katrakis is an active professional international coordinator. Coordinatordinating both social, political, economical and commercial projects, as well as, cultural, artistic and philanthropic projects, exhibits and events.
The Main Prize 2010 at Freedom to Create World Prize, an international award that supports artists striving for social change in regions with significant barriers to expression, world-wide. The position of the ambassador of good will in the field of culture for the Freedom to Create World Prize (Main Prize - commended artist). On the mission around the world, working in the team with major world representatives and celebrities, rasing money to support young talents who strive for social change in places where there is no "Freedome to Create". To help those in need, working to help sick children and orphans. Working with numerous international social and philanthropically organizations in the process: UN, UNICEF, Green Peace, CIHF, CCI and many others.
FREEDOM TO CREATE WORLD PRIZE PROJECT
Christina Katrakis was appointed an official Coordinator and Curator of UNESCO Cultural Programs in Europe. This position of an official UNESCO representative was bestowed upon her by the Historical UNESCO Office, in Bologna (UNESCO City of Music and Arts), Italy. As a UNESCO legal agent, Katrakis will coordinate major UNESCO events, including UNESCO art shows and prizes worthy of UNESCO achievements and deeds internationally. It's a great honor and public responsibility, to be chosen to represent UNESCO and its international cultural projects world wide.
The work on the "Bridge for Art" UNESCO project for UNESCO Center in Bologna has come to an end on May 5th 2020.
The work on the "Bridge for Art" UNESCO project for UNESCO Center in Bologna has come to an end on May 5th 2020.
UNESCO Deputy
If a building becomes architecture, then it is art
The "Zone" series of works were on exhibit in the Institute of Modern Art in Chicago UIMA. The painting "Omen" from the "Zone" series is now in the permanent collection of the Institute of Modern Art in Chicago. A museum exhibit and permanent collection entry, made truly a strong statement and resonated with public, opening new horizons of vision and sensitivity. The full catalogue was published for this museum exhibit.
Institute of Modern Art in Chicago UIMA
c.katraki@gmail.com
CONTACT
