Unveiling Empowerment: Stella Kapezanou shares insights on her Exhibition in Cyprus
Artist Stella Kapezanou challenges postfeminism and stereotypes through her thought-provoking paintings titled 'Riches and Bitches.' By redefining the image of black women, she aims to reposition them in Western societies and question the notion of the Californian dream. Her artwork shares insights on her contribution to promoting female empowerment, exploring narratives of connection, perception, and representation.
Can you tell us about your recent exhibition in Cyprus and what inspired the theme behind it?
For my most recent exhibition in Cyprus, I was invited by CARV_23 Artist Residency to work on the theme of Transformative Identities and deal with the idea of identity transformation through the spectre of migration. The curator Dimitrios Spyrou was interested in an artist’s unique approach and interpretation of the transformative process migrants go through. My artistic practice deals with women empowerment, however through my research I identified an issue in postfeminism. Apparently, the empowered woman is usually high privileged - cisgender, straight, middle to upper class, she has no disabilities and she’s white. Especially, black immigrant women have been treated unequally in western societies throughout the years. Influenced by the culture of Black Girls Matter, I attempted to redefine the black style stereotypes and transform them into female identity features. Therefore, I created a series of paintings titled ‘Riches and Bitches’ depicting body parts and stylistic characteristics of black women, who themselves have chosen to proclaim their own empowered identity. Additionally to this, I used as a background of my paintings a common Californian motif, consisting of palm trees that were brought to Western States by enslaved people of colour from the the colonies. In this way, I aim to question the idea of the Californian dream, that was actually created by the black slaves for the white privileged people. Through these works I comment on the fallacy of the white superiority and play with the stereotypical iconography of black women.
How does your work as an artist contribute to promoting and expressing female empowerment? Are there specific narratives you explore in your artwork?
My paintings take aim at consumerism, popular culture, and materialistic lifestyles. The works build upon complex narratives about connection, perception, and representation. Their focus is on the complexity of the human subject in contemporary society. I am mainly interested in the body language of the female characters and the way that they emanate authority and vigorousness in relation to the male ones. Comments on women empowerment and the reversal of male authority are parts of my artistic practice and I use them to create my own method of staging and storytelling. In my latest paintings, the female body dominates the compositions and motivates towards an "other" independence, independence from the critical gaze of the viewer. I infuse my paintings with caustic humour that criticises toxic masculinity, praising the vulnerability of human existence and sanctifying the dominant position of men with the vehicle of design dexterity and pop aesthetics. The eccentric presences often cross their look with the self-complacent gaze of the viewer, causing a momentary discomfort. The presentation of a modern lifestyle that moves from opulence to consumerism and decadence is presented from a critical perspective, while an implicit comment is often left on the superficial - and sometimes casual - interaction of bodies in everyday life. The pose of the naked or semi-naked bodies and the sulkiness or haughtiness of the gaze of the figures depicted underline the ambiguous intentions that prevail in interpersonal relationships today. These are paintings articulated through the vulnerable dynamism and cheerful futility between female and male bodies and their surroundings.
"My goal for the understanding of this series is to reposition black women, and migrant women in general, in the framework of western societies and act as a gesture of individualism, empowerment and self-determination." Stella Kapezanou
Could you share some of your artistic values and goals?
My biggest artistic goal at the moment is to have a successful residency in Santa Fe Art Institute this coming winter. I have just been awarded the Fulbright Program Scholarship that targets arts professionals and supports them to achieve a higher level of proficiency, enhance their career, seek advancement opportunities and familiarise themselves with the U.S. cultural scene. I’m deeply honoured and grateful for having achieved this award and I’m looking forward to explore the diverse, multicultural environment of New Mexico and enrich my artistic practice on the authority and vigorousness of the female body even further.
In what ways do you believe art can play a role in challenging societal norms and advocating for positive change, particularly regarding gender equality and female empowerment?
Artists use symbols, hidden messages, indications and notions in their works. They have the chance to involve the viewers in their work, if they wish to. A friend once told me that he felt intimidated looking at my paintings, as the female figures were dominant and sovereign, looking out of the canvas directly at him, causing his perspective to shift uncomfortably. It only made me smile on the inside. Sometimes, just looking at my works almost requires an apology, and, what starts as a scene of simple or superficial social interaction develops into deeper layers of tension, confusion and perhaps even dissatisfaction. The way that my protagonists are staring at the viewers, their attitude and arrogance, their sleek styling, their unclear intensions and the underlying darkness in their gazes, feels like a ceremony where the figures have all a specific role and function, complicating the position of viewership and making the spectators feel like they’re watching a performance of some sort. My stories are left to the viewers to finish according to their own belief system and cultural heritage. Furthermore, the outcome of these narratives can be ambivalent, causing a feeling of intrusion, and often of slight discomfort. People are often confused as they’re feeling like peeking through a keyhole. The Sovereignty of my female figures is intentional. An impetuous self-control characterises them despite their sensitive, tender and discreet form. The power of female encouragement is deified by their dominant gaze and their body posture, and fortified by the images’ big scale, challenging the viewer to look deeper, longer, and to discover the layers underneath the patina.
Stella Kapezanou is a renowned figurative artist from Greece known for her vibrant and large-scale paintings that explore the complexity of the human subject. Her works critique modern lifestyles and have garnered international recognition.
