Chrysi Papadaki
Visual Artist
“One mermaid out of the sea"
Performance | Athens, 2020
The mermaid, as an amphibious creature living between two worlds, represents the ambiguities of human existence and the contradictions in the perception of the self, identity, and external image. Through her images and works, she explores how these mythological symbols influence contemporary perceptions of the individual and how the human experience is constantly shaped through these archetypes.
In this performance, I created a mermaid tail that I wore and attempted to climb a household ladder.
The tail was decorated at the bottom with aluminum scales, which referenced the "vow," as did the ladder.
Through this performance, I was exploring my lifelong childhood wish to transform into a mermaid and sail away, and the conflict between that and my adult life, where daily reality leaves little room for daydreaming.
This work is, in a way, a continuation of a previous piece, "Mermaids" (2019), where I had created vows made of salt dough and aluminum, depicting mermaids from the history of art, religion, and mythology, thus creating an altar of prayer.
Now, mimicking the faithful who climb the steps in Tinos to fulfill their vow, I climb a ladder, carrying my wish and its consequences.
Tail design by Chrysi Papadaki
Scales by Chrysi Papadaki
Sewing the tail by Lydia Skouraili
Documentation of performance by Eleni Stathopoulou and Artemis Sartzetaki
Video Edit by Eleni Stathopoulou
Spersial thanks to Konstantina Eikosipentarhou
“Mermaids”
Installation | ASFA, Athens, 2019.
saltdough, fish scales, aluminium, transparent paper
Vows made of salt dough and aluminum, depicting mermaids from the history of art, religion, and mythology, thus creating an altar of pray.
This work is the result of the first research and the beginning of an archive concerning mermaids. By collecting images and texts about this mythical creature in the history of art, folklore and religion and its connection with my childhood desire to become a mermaid, I created a Portrait of the Mermaids. My desire is expressed through aluminum and dough, materials used in the Christian religion to create votive offerings that the faithful deposit in churches to have their wishes fulfilled.
When I was a child, my grandmothers taught me to pray for my wishes to be fulfilled. Despite my prayers, I never obtained the mermaid tail I so desired.
