PLEASE DON’T MIND ME WHILE I UGLY CRY

The Eye Altering gallery is pleased to present the group show “Please don’t mind me while I ugly cry” featuring the works of fifteen Greek and international artists: Maja Bachler (HR), Lou Benech (FR/US), Mariella Bilitsa (GR), Adamandia Chatzivasileiou (GR), Lydia Dimitriade (GR), Lugas Elias (DE), Akis Giousmis (GR), Philippe Laferriere (GR/FR), Miranda Makaroff (ES), Roma Manikhin (DE/RU), Margo Sarkisova (UA), Olga Shcheblykina (AT/UA), Julia Soboleva (UK/LV), Les Soeurs Siamoises (FR/US), TADE (GR)

A wide range of responses could be proposed to the question “What is painting?”, extending from ironic to heartfelt; from figurative to abstract; answers that can tightly embrace and creatively reimagine the numerous possibilities of painting or even critically engage with its limits. The artists participating in the exhibition offer a highly emotive answer to the aforementioned question. Their artworks gracefully stand on the opposite side of formalism, as their narrative content and their relationship to the visible world prevail over their purely visual aspects.

Likewise, the spontaneous and unpremeditated character of these works seems to be outside or beyond the boundaries of normal identity and the conscious control associated with it. Thus, these paintings provide us with a profoundly emotional and unsettling experience, but also engage us in pondering about the sensations of the paint surface.

In some of the works, we discover the constant storytellers behind them that create narratives without beginning or end. In other artworks, the artists deploy dense shadows, brilliant colors, or other devices to evoke an almost neo-mystical atmosphere. Some paintings look “unscathed by artistic culture” and others have their subject matters refashioned to alter their actual and emotional content. But all together manifest the triumphant vindication of the vivacity and continuing significance of painting.

Artists Support Ukraine

During the exhibition, the gallery will offer posters made by our collaborating artists, 100% of the profits will go toward supporting humanitarian aid for the people of Ukraine.