Who is artist Natalia Manta? Share with us a few things about you and your work in general.
Ι was born in Athens, Greece and graduated from the Athens School of Fine Arts bachelor and MFA graduate programs. In the past few years I have been active in the art world, creating new works, participating in exhibitions and contemporary multimedia projects. My work’s main intent focuses on the creation of a symbolic sum, where matter replaces speech and creates its own narrative where fictional and imaginary elements instigate penetration of the imaginary into the material world. These elements serve as the fundamental axes of my current artistic endeavour. I employ different materials such as metal, clay, light-sensitive chemicals and video projections. Also I cooperate and interact with artists spanning the width of the disciplinary spectrum – visual, music, theatre or performance artists. My work has been internationally exhibited in various solo and group exhibitions.
What was your reaction when you heard that you were awarded?
I was overcome with feelings of joy and excitement. My work receiving an award in the context of a great competition like the Larnaca Biennale, is a great honour and I would like to take this opportunity and yet again thank the committee members and the Biennale’s team for the support.
Tell us a few words about your awarded work.
It is a collection of ceramic sculptures. These works are part of a larger body of 120 ceramic sculptures entitled “Memorial Tools”. The Memorial Tools visually create the impression of functional or non-functional objects. Of high importance was the material approach to these small sculptures, which could hypothetically have been found buried in the soil in an archeological excavation, while their construction material is the soil itself. The choice of their clay construction provided me with a sense of transience and subtlety, which further intensified their symbolic character, and this is why later I did not make any further intervention on the clay, such as polishing or colorization.
What was your overall impression about Larnaca Biennale 2021?
My overall impression is a very positive one. The communication with the Biennale’s team during the exhibition’s preparation was exemplary. Outside of the event’s authoritative presence and content as well as the high aesthetic caliber of the featured works, the Larnaca Biennale extends a warm welcome to the artists themselves. In my personal experience the care and diligence with which my work was set in the “Pieridis” Museum was very moving and in my view constitutes an example of respect to contemporary art. At this point I need to thank again the team members who so carefully and meticulously unpacked, repacked and shipped back my work, whose nature is very fragile and easy to damage over transport. The wonderfully curated exhibition catalogues distributed to the artists featuring text and photos was another high point for me as were the kind gifts.
Despite my excellent impressions and exemplary attitude of all of the people involved, I would like to mention that it is crucial for future installments to include in their budget an artist fee for the participating artists at least in an amount substantial enough to allow them to ship their works, transport themselves to the Biennale etc. It is extremely important to extend crucial support to contemporary artists always keeping in mind the major financial challenges and insecurities that govern the contemporary art world. We should seek to install functional foundations and then strive for their betterment.
A message you would like to send to artists that will apply in the future for participation in the Larnaca Biennale.
I would encourage them to participate, trust the organization and do their best to visit the exhibition in person. It is a wonderful experience of meeting new people and exchanging ideas, where Biennale officials, artists and spectators get to meat one another under the roof of contemporary art.
