“A blend of interior, tropical landscape and still life, warped perspectives and changes of scale as well as a heightened color palette create compositions that act almost as portals beyond the depictions.”
A Journey Rooted in Heritage and Passion
Emi Avora‘s artistic journey is deeply intertwined with her origins on the Greek island of Corfu. Growing up surrounded by art, thanks to her father, who is also a painter, Avora was immersed in a world where creativity was a daily companion. Art materials, paintings, and art books were part of her everyday environment, sparking her early interest in creating and observing art. It wasn’t until later, however, that she decided to pursue it seriously, leading her to study Fine Art. With the guidance of a young, contemporary-focused teacher, Avora’s initial forays into the art world were marked by support and freedom, allowing her to explore and cultivate her passion with an excited clarity.
Her formal education began at the Ruskin School of Art in Oxford, UK, where she spent three transformative years. There, she interacted with prominent artists who provided tutorials and insights into their practices, significantly shaping her artistic perspective. The real leap into an independent artistic career came after she completed her MA from the Royal Academy Schools in London. It was then that Avora found the courage to secure a studio and begin exhibiting her work, marking the true start of her professional journey.
Emi Avora: A Confluence of Cultures and Colors
Now based in Singapore, Emi Avora’s work vividly reflects a blend of Eastern and Western mythologies and everyday life. Her artistic style is a unique amalgamation of observation, abstraction, and imagination, creating fictional spaces that invite viewers into her vibrant world. Her compositions often feature a mix of interiors, tropical landscapes, and still life, with warped perspectives and changes in scale adding to the complexity and intrigue of her pieces. Avora’s use of a heightened color palette further enhances the surreal quality of her work, transforming her canvases into portals that transcend mere depiction.
One of her most significant pieces, “The Last Days,” exemplifies this approach. This large-scale work encapsulates all the facets of Avora’s vision, blending elements of everyday relics with her Greek heritage. The painting exists in a space between fiction and reality, combining high and low culture, East and West, and natural and urban elements. This maximalist depiction challenges viewers to look beyond the canvas, creating a space that feels both familiar and fantastical. “The Last Days” is particularly meaningful to Avora, as it abstractly encapsulates her current artistic explorations and personal identity.
Creating Spaces of Inspiration
In her studio, Avora maintains a disciplined environment that fosters creativity without distractions. She avoids making the space too cozy, treating it as a dedicated workspace where she can focus on painting. Despite this, Avora recognizes the importance of having access to background noise, whether it’s music, radio, or audiobooks, to keep her company and stimulate her creative process. The titles of her works often emerge from what she listens to while painting, adding another layer of connection between her environment and her art.
The studio’s atmosphere allows Avora to embrace the messiness of the creative process. She finds solace and inspiration in the balance of structured discipline and spontaneous creation. This approach not only enhances her productivity but also enriches the depth and texture of her work. By immersing herself in a sensory-rich environment, she seamlessly integrates various influences into her art, making each piece a reflection of her multifaceted experiences and thoughts.
Emi Avora: Inspirations and Aspirations
Emi Avora draws inspiration from a diverse array of sources, including other artists, everyday life, myths, tales, her children, colors, books, and random found images. This eclectic mix of influences is evident in the richness and variety of her work. Avora’s recent venture into ceramics has added a new dimension to her practice, creating a dynamic interplay between painting and ceramics. This exploration allows her to discover fresh possibilities and relationships between different mediums, keeping her work continually evolving.
Avora’s dream project involves creating large paintings specifically designed for expansive museum or gallery spaces. She has a deep love for working on large-scale pieces, which provide ample room for her detailed, imaginative compositions. This ambition reflects her desire to push the boundaries of her art, engaging with viewers on an even grander scale and inviting them into her intricate, colorful worlds.
Emi Avora’s journey from Corfu to Singapore, and her evolving artistic practice, highlight her as an artist who seamlessly blends cultural influences, personal heritage, and creative exploration. Her work stands as a testament to the power of art to transcend boundaries and create spaces of wonder and reflection.
