Artist of the Month August - Katerina Parpa 
After a few attempts to draw with colored ink, Katerina decided to stick to black and white, again refusing to listen to other people’s advice and requests. The black and white of her drawings symbolizes her “spirit of antilogy” since she tends to go against orders, have opinions about pretty much everything and even sometimes argue incessantly to prove her point. One person says “black” and she says “white”. This year Katerina took her art a step further using symbolic shapes and figures to convey a message or a story through her drawings.
INTERVIEW WITH KATERINA:
Q: Having been chosen as Artist of the Month for the month of August Katerina Parpa, with her usual playfulness and humour shares her thoughts on the subject:
A: Hello there! Firstly I would like to say a big thank you to the Gnosy community for being chosen as “artist of the month”, a title which I must admit makes one feel a bit awkward (one being me).
I was asked to write a few words about myself for this issue and thought “what better way to put ones writing skills to practice by interviewing …myself, instead of the usual basic biography and awkward self promotion”. So here goes:
Q: So Katerina how do you feel about being chosen as Artist of the Month?
A: Well…Katerina, thank you for asking…To be honest it feels a bit uneasy due to the fact that I’m fairly young and new to the art community and in my opinion “artist of the month” is a title which is best suited for someone more established. Although one might argue that someone more established would probably be worthy of an “Artist of the Year” article. Never-the-less I am flattered and grateful so…thank you.
Q: Which other artists’ work do you admire?
A: I guess the cliché and politically correct answer to that question would be that there are so many talented artists that it is difficult to choose just one or two favourites.
I fall in love with the art by falling in love with the artist. Looking beyond the layers of paint, if I can relate to their philosophies, their personalities, their warmness, then I am moved by their art. As a member of the Gnosyart community I have had the pleasure of meeting, interacting and “falling in love” with quite a few artists and their work.
Q: Your previous collection of work titled “The Spirit of Antilogy” gave the impression of conflict and antithesis. Why did you choose that title?
A: It seemed to tie everything together. Each piece was so different due to the fact that each piece takes two to three months to complete. It was a collection of work of an 8 year period…with a two year creative gap between 2006 and 2008.
Q: What happened during that period to cause the creative gap?
A: During that period my creative outlet was writing as a fashion journalist. That circle slowly began to close when I picked up a different pen and paper…
Q: Do you feel that your background in fashion has helped or deterred you in your art? Going back would you have still chosen this area of study?
A: Well Katerina… I don’t know about you but I’m a strong believer that everything happens for a reason and that what is meant for you will not pass you by. The various paths I have chosen have helped to get me where I am today and who knows how these choices will influence the future. Weather its fashion or art the importance is to enjoy it and not take it too seriously. When it stops being fun then it becomes pretentious.
Q: What do you enjoy more, fashion or art?
A: Fashion feeds (and clothes) my body, but my art feeds and warms my soul…a bit of a cliché answer but it’s true.
Q: How do you feel about your work being categorized as “naïve art”?
A: Categories can be limiting only if you let them. There’s nothing keeping me from experimenting with new media and other categories. As for naïve art, if it keeps my inner child alive and vibrant then I’m happy.
Q: Any plans to work with colour?
A: Hehe…well that’s where my “spirit of antilogy” kicks in. As long as people keep insisting on colour, I will keep insisting on black and white. It’s not a matter of being stubborn. It’s a matter of feeling that there’s still more levels to reach with the black and white before moving on to colour. As long as black and white is still challenging then I will continue with that. It’s easier to communicate happy vibrations with colour. If certain people are asking for colour then I read into it that they have yet to pick up on the happy vibrations of my black and white pieces, hence the challenge.
