In this interview to Marta Sánchez Galindez, featured on Talentyart, I discuss my artistic philosophy and the role of photography in expressing emotions, thoughts, and ideas.
Konstantina Gavala: “The ‘writing of light’ is the tool I find most suitable for expressing feelings, thoughts, and ideas.”
A PHOTOGRAPHER ABOVE ALL, YET ALSO AN ARTIST IN OTHER DISCIPLINES, KONSTANTINA GAVALA USES ART TO EXPRESS HER LIFE AND REFLECT THE WORLD AROUND HER.
The light of Athens brought to Barcelona — thanks to a remarkable artist who is part of our TalentyArt Gallery. Konstantina Gavala is a photographer and multidisciplinary artist fascinated by this way of “writing with light,” which, as she explains to us, is precisely what the Greek word photography means. Konstantina’s images emerge both unsettling and evocative, a sublimation — at once abstract and surreal — of everyday life in which we can all recognise ourselves. As though drawn from a frame of her admired Tim Burton, these images turn wind turbines into giants’ mills and street snapshots into labyrinths of dreams. Konstantina told us how she understands art and how she brings it to life on paper.
“IT WAS IN ATHENS WHERE I LEARNT HOW TO SEE LIGHT AND SHADOW”
TalentyArt: Konstantina, I see that you were born in Greece and now live in Barcelona. What aspects of your homeland are present in your art, and what have you incorporated from your experience of living in this city?
Konstantina Gavala: Yes, I was born in Greece — a place of incredible nature, open-minded people, and a long history. It was in Athens that I learnt how to observe light and shadow, and my parents were the first to show me how one can create an entire world with just a pencil and paper. From my country, I will always carry its light, its sea, and its culture with me.
I moved to Barcelona around three years ago. There are many interesting things about this city, but what I have appreciated most are its dualities: the old and the new, the sea and the mountains, day and night, Spanish and Catalan, tourists and locals… It’s quite a small city — compared to Athens, for example — yet it has a far more cosmopolitan cultural life. In its streets, you can hear almost every language, and in shared flats you’ll find people from all over the world — something I find very pleasant.
TyA: Besides photography, I see that you practise other disciplines. In which do you feel most at ease? Do you have a favourite?
K.G.: I enjoy practising several forms of art, that’s true. Above all, I always use drawing as a foundation to conceive any work. Then I try to express myself in different ways — through painting, illustration, jewellery-making, ceramics, and of course, photography, which has always fascinated me. The “writing of light” (as the word’s Greek etymology suggests) is the tool I find most appropriate for expressing feelings, thoughts, and ideas.
“I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO STUDY UNDER TEACHERS FROM A VARIETY OF DISCIPLINES, INCLUDING IMPORTANT ARTISTS SUCH AS THE PAINTER SOTIRIS SORONGAS AND THE VISUAL ARTIST NIKOLAS LASKARIS”
TyA: I see from your curriculum that you hold a degree in architecture. Are you currently working in this field, or is your work more related to the visual arts?
K.G.: Architecture has been a major influence throughout my life. My parents are architects, and I grew up surrounded by sketches, drawings, and creative sensitivity. My studies were a formative experience — I had the opportunity to study under teachers from diverse disciplines, including renowned artists such as the painter Sotiris Sorongas and the visual artist Nikolas Laskaris.
I worked as an architect for about six years until I reached a point where I felt “trapped” by the routine of my working day and missed the freedom of expression I needed. At present, I devote myself mainly to the visual arts — above all, to photography.
TyA: Your career is truly impressive, and I see that you even won 1st Prize at the Circuito de Cine – Reflecta. What was it like to exhibit at such an iconic venue as the Museo Reina Sofía in Madrid?
K.G.: I still can’t believe it! It was a huge surprise because it wasn’t mentioned in the competition announcement. In any case, I was deeply moved — it was a great honour.
“THE SERIES WHISPER IN BLACK AND WHITE IS A TRIBUTE TO EVERYDAY BEAUTY”
TyA: Your black-and-white digital photographs (I’m referring to the series Whisper in Black and White, showcased in your TalentyArt gallery) are partly figurative, partly abstract, and highly dreamlike. You also accompany them with evocative text. Tell us what you wanted to express through this series.
K.G.: This project sprang from a simple idea. A few months ago, I began “writing” a photographic diary in which each day had to be represented by a single image. During that process, I had to go out more often and tried to look beyond the obvious in my surroundings. I began to explore the idea of the “whisper” as a tribute to everyday beauty — a study in abstract composition, as you said, and at the same time, a small reportage on city life.
“I BELIEVE ART SHOULD BE ABLE TO EXPRESS, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE HISTORICAL MOMENT IN WHICH IT WAS BORN”
TyA: Apart from their dreamlike and somewhat abstract character, your photographs remind me of classic black-and-white images shot with analogue, not digital, cameras. Do you use that technique as well?
K.G.: It’s been years since I used analogue equipment. I believe art should be able to express, among other things, the historical moment in which it was created. Speaking specifically of photography, I think we must move beyond the analogue vocabulary and embrace this new connection with reality. Let me explain: when photography was born, people believed in what they saw in images — they recognised “truth” in them.
The emergence of digital technology has created a kind of detachment from reality and memory. We no longer believe what we see in an image — we know it could be altered, and we don’t trust it. Yet with the arrival of mobile phone cameras, another novelty has appeared. Although these images are digital, they aren’t quite like others: they are instantaneous, taken and shared there and then. There’s a sense of trust that they might be unmanipulated and genuine. The entire Whisper in Black and White series was created exclusively using a mobile phone camera app. None of the images were retouched, which brings them closer to what you describe — classic analogue photographs.
TyA: A question I often ask artists: who are your main influences? Which creators inspire you the most?
K.G.: Life is full of images composed of different realities. In that sense, many people have influenced me, not necessarily those recognised as artists. As for artistic references, I could mention:
- Photographers: Man Ray, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Sebastião Salgado
- Filmmakers: Alfred Hitchcock, Ridley Scott, Tim Burton
- Artists: Marc Chagall, Sotiris Sorongas, Mira Bernabeu
- Architects: Aris Konstantinidis, Charles-Édouard Jeanneret-Gris, Takis Zenetos
TyA: What do art and digital photography offer you compared with more traditional techniques?
K.G.: In fact, I see them all as tools of expression. The difference, for me, lies in the ease of use of new media. With less size and weight, you can achieve similar results to analogue methods — not to mention the economic advantage they bring.
“TODAY, ABOUT 30% OF AN ARTIST’S WORK FOCUSES ON TRYING TO PROMOTE THEIR OWN WORK THROUGH MEDIA CHANNELS”
TyA: The inevitable question: how do you see the challenge of making a living from art? Do you think digital media offer more opportunities for artists to share their work?
K.G.: Living solely from art is practically impossible — at least for a young artist without many connections. Unfortunately, the fine art photography market is very small, and the opportunities available are limited. It’s true that digital media help somewhat, as they allow everyone to show their work to a wider audience. Nowadays, about 30% of an artist’s effort goes into trying to promote their work across media platforms.
TyA: You’ve been one of the artists to exhibit in TalentyArt’s Second Collective Exhibition on digital art. How has your experience with the platform been so far?
K.G.: I joined the TalentyArt database at the suggestion of one of my photography teachers. It has truly been a very pleasant experience. I had the opportunity to take part in one of their virtual classes and was selected to participate in a group exhibition in Madrid. I’m very grateful to them for the opportunities they’ve provided.
