Stella Zozi

Mythical, half-remembered dreams abound in the earthy, sensuous paintings of Stella Zozi. Inspired by her Greek heritage, Stella's colour palette echoes the vibrant tones of the Mediterranean, in deep blues, lush greens, vibrant yellows and warm oranges and pinks. In the Greek mythology that inspires Stella's work, the gods are never far away. They might be encountered by mortals at any moment, and in any guise, this rich, mysterious essence imbued in the paintings, a sense of freshness and possibility. In 'Fisherman', sun-bleached pinks and blues bring an almost-palpable feeling of cooling twilight to the painting, the half-suggested figure of the fisherman rendered in dark paint as the sea and sky blend into one behind him. In 'Swimmer', quick, intuitive brush strokes connect the viewer to the clear blaze of joy felt when suspended in deep blue waters, the rush and motion of the sea felt in the movement of the paint. Mythological themes are embraced and explored in 'Therianthrope' - a term that refers to ability to shape shift between human and animal forms, a recurrent motif throughout classical Greek mythology, used by the Gods to enchant and beguile, or inflicted on mortals as a punishment. In the dynamic swirl of deep sea blue on a background of livid Persian pink, animal shapes appear before being subsumed once again - the tentacles of an octopus, the distinctive shape of a cetacean's tale.

Despite their differing tones and approaches, 'Drifting', 'Liberation 1' and 'Liberation 2' are all united by the grounding central female figure, and would make excellent companion pieces. Cradled in deep foliage, or surrounded by water, these women are a natural part of the landscapes, which are themselves rendered alive, the brush work suggesting the blur of motion.