Angelika Prapa
Born in Graz, Austria, artist Angelika Prapa graduated from the Fine Arts and Applied Arts Department of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in 2013. She also pursued a master's degree in German Literature and received psychology education at the Academy of Hamburg, where she worked as a freelance writer. Her diverse experiences have given her a versatile perspective in her art.
Angelika Prapa's work creates fake kaleidoscopic images that move towards the constant leaving behind and reorganization of the self during the process of memory decay. The discovery of one's unique foundation and the truth hidden within their inner world, free from deceptive social norms and roles, forms the core idea of the artist. This idea is present throughout her work. The starting point of Prapa's quest consists of family photographs depicting childhood memories, special moments in her life, and the individuals who played leading roles in those moments. The images she reflects in her paintings present the invisible and imaginary worlds of her characters, which differ from what the camera captures. In her works that aim to reveal the hidden characteristics of power, relationships, and personalities among these characters, childhood memories are redefined through the critical eye of an adult.
According to Prapa, playing with the canvas is the process of regaining meaning from the core self and reconnecting with one's roots. The desire to immortalize the key people in her life during childhood, and the childlike yearning she holds towards her past and experiences, is evidence of the semiotic appearance of play, which symbolizes her works. She treats both herself and the other characters depicted in her works as players in a game, dressing them in the guise of "adult children" (children displaying adolescent characteristics). With this metamorphosis, the characters gain the right to play, protection, and care. At the same time, they let go of the power and roles they possess. In her works, the relationships of adult children with those around them undergo a transformation, reflecting new forms of connection, care, restriction, and control.
The dependence and attachment relationships between adult children and the adults they relate to are depicted through semiotic placements in the artwork. The adults appear at the feet or in the laps of the adult children, in the background, trapped and unable to move... The breaking of molds, the shifting of power dynamics between the strong and the weak, and the disclosure of the true relationship between the individuals portrayed within the power and attachment game constitute the main themes of her work. The downfall of the oppressive mother-wife, the protective mother-sister, and the superior father figure are central to her artwork.
As Prapa continues the game of symbols, viewers with a discerning perspective will understand that she reveals the point where the East meets the West, as well as her own heritage. Elements in the surroundings, landscapes, and objects, as well as the characteristics carried by the characters, indicate their identities. The artwork incorporates fezzes and shovels, Western European interior decorations, Western clothing styles, and Austrian games of the period. Even the reflection of light follows the example of Western European countries, with less intensity on the faces and surrounded by heavy shadows.
