“Irene Iliopoulou’s Society of Bella and Harry: A Farm” is the title of her new art exhibition, opening on Thursday, January 16th, at 19:30 at Skoufa Gallery. The exhibition will run until February 8, 2025. Each of her new collections presents a unique universe shaped by her aesthetic vision and imagination. This time, the protagonists are grounded in a natural farm setting, blending reality with a touch of fantasy.

The surprise element in Iliopoulou’s work often lies in her whimsical characters, but in this exhibition, it’s the animals themselves that take center stage. “Society of Bella and Harry” includes 25 paintings and 75 small ceramic animal sculptures.

What inspired you to incorporate animals into natural landscapes as key elements in your new exhibition?

“After finishing my previous exhibition, I wanted to take a break from painting on canvas. I started creating small ceramic animal sculptures purely for fun, without a specific purpose in mind. These 75 ceramic pieces became the foundation of my new landscapes. Inspired by them, I revisited themes I had previously loved, and from there, the idea of my farm developed. The animals are real; I sketched them on the island of Kasos, where I have lived for seven years. For the first time, I had the chance to observe and interact with them up close. Such opportunities are not to be missed—they enrich not only one’s art but also the mind and soul.”

Your exhibition carries a strong ecological message. What does this “return to innocence” mean to you?

“The ecological message wasn’t intentional; it emerged naturally. After the works leave your hands, they take on their own destiny. For me, this was primarily a painting experience born from the joy and emotional connection I felt interacting with the animals. This experience felt like a journey to a magical, unknown place. Capturing that sense of innocence through my art wasn’t just a creative need—it was a joyful and renewing process.”

Your art often seems like a realization of childhood dreams. Do you agree?

“In many ways, yes. That’s something very important for an artist. The realm of childhood dreams offers endless inspiration. Since I was a child, I’ve kept a journal of my dreams, so that world is familiar to me. I’ve also painted scenes based on childhood memories and desires, which are deeply rooted in us forever.”

From your earliest exhibitions until now, you’ve depicted nature in various forms. What does this recurring theme mean to you?

“Obsession, when it’s a conscious artistic choice and not mere repetition, can be very creative. It allows you to delve deeply into the subject that captivates you. Nature offers infinite possibilities for art, and no matter how many times you paint it, it never fully reveals itself. It only gives you a glimpse, urging you to keep searching and exploring. For me, both nature and painting are forms of refuge and redemption. When they come together, it’s pure happiness.”

How important is an open mind and imagination in engaging with art, and how can one cultivate this openness?

“An open mind and imagination are essential for engaging with and understanding art. The path to this is through art itself—reading, listening to music, visiting museums, traveling, and especially reading.”

A farm with animals is often a dream for many people. Would you like to have a real farm one day?

“I would love to, but only if someone else took care of it. I wouldn’t want it to take me away from the city, as I wouldn’t have time for painting otherwise. I’m a city person at heart. Animals and nature can captivate your mind like fairies, so I prefer to keep the farm in my imagination, bringing it into my studio on my own terms.”

Ideally, what should the relationship between humans and animals be, and what has yours been like since childhood?

“Animals enrich our lives, soften our hearts, and deserve our respect and care. When they become our companions, life becomes easier. As a child, I admired and loved animals from afar. I hesitated to enter their world because I traveled often and feared the commitment. My cat taught me to seek eye contact with animals and to capture that in my art. Their gaze touches the soul directly, and that’s truly magnificent.”