Dimitra Bouritsa is one of ArtConnect’s Artists to Watch '22

Being a woman affects the way she experiences and perceive things, and that is certainly passed on in her work. She finds exciting the multidimensional role of a woman, its many faces and identities, the beautiful way she brings a person in life, and the way all this has been depicted and explored in most cultures, traditions, civilizations, mythologies. She finds great inspiration in them. It is wonderful how a woman is a sort of a deity and a sacred creature in many of them, the mother earth, the deity of fertility, the snake deity, but also simple women, the pregnant woman, the woman giving birth.

Women are the main characters in her work because she is a woman and she can only relate to her characters for it to be personal. Inspired from myths , fairy tales, and all the meanings (as well as the hidden ones) they carry, she intends to keep their atmosphere but in dialogue with contemporary references. Sometimes she feels that some things are timeless and always contemporary no matter what.

ArtConnect asked the winning artists to share with us a glimpse into their creative life to get a sense of their personal inspiration and artistic process.

How did you get started as an artist?

I did what has always felt most naturally to me,since forever, I started to paint.

How would you describe your artistic approach?

My works derives from my feelings and my personal ,everyday experiences but also from childhood memories, realising all the things that form my identity as a unique person, a mother, a woman, a human being. I always tend to doubt everything given , take nothing for granted , create questions and seek the answers.

And how about what inspires you?

Beauty inspires me. It can be in so many different things and often in not the most obvious. I find beauty in the bizarre, in old masters paintings, in women from so much different countries and civilizations than what I have known and grown up in.

What are the biggest challenges you’ve faced as an artist?

Being seen, having my voice heard( because it is a true need for an artist to have a response and a dialogue on the artwork created, it is quite the fuel to keep going), make ends meet as a full-time artist, create while being a mother of a two.

Describe a typical day in the studio/wherever you make your work.

Ha. There is no typical day. I wish there was. As I said , I have a 10-month baby boy and an almost 3 years old little girl, so...A typical day is stealing moments of creative thought twhile being a mom and trying to give flesh to my ideas while the little montsers are asleep.

Is there a medium, a process, or a technique that you haven't used in your work yet but would like to try out?

Certainly. I would like to make lithographs and combine them with painting-collage or embroidery. Also I wish I had the chance to create really big scale work, like murals.

What are you currently working on? Or an upcoming project you want to mention?

I am always creating new things , because that is the only way to answers, to peace of mind(in a way), to evolution. A the moment , after a series of quite large paintings, I am back to small scale, combining different techniques, painting on prints and embroidery.

How does it feel to be selected as an ArtConnect Artist to Watch?

It feels great, I am honored. Thank you!

Anything else you want to add?

Despite all difficulties, I think we are living in very interesting times, times for important change in may ways.

See more of Dimitra’s work

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