Angela Kiki Konstantinopoulou’s ‘Ode To Freedom’ set to inspire at NSW Parliament

One of Australia’s astir important artists is astir to contiguous to Sydney audiences, via NSW Parliament House, an accumulation that is designed to marque 1 think astir state and what it means to Hellenes and Australians.

Angela Kiki Konstantinopoulou is an creator who has seen the world, having lived successful Southeast Asia and Sydney, been portion of the manner world successful her autochthonal Greece and taught manner plan successful Patra.

“My beingness experiences exploring arts textiles, crafts, symbols and temples of the past’s anonymous and known artists successful antithetic countries has influenced my style of painting,” she explained.

Her passionateness for arts, civilization and surviving successful the location of the Greek gyration (Peloponnese) has surely influenced her work this century. Those of us fortunate capable to beryllium successful Sydney, Canberra oregon Greece would person seen her solo oregon radical exhibitions.

With the support of AHEPA Sydney & NSW and the Greek Consulate of Sydney, Kiki has brought to beingness a bid of exhibitions which reflects connected the heroism and tragedy of the Greek Revolution and the heroes who inspired her arsenic an creator and a person.

Angela Kiki Konstantinopoulou with internationally renowned representation creator Dave Thomas. Photo: Supplied

In 2021, Konstantinopoulou exhibited International Women’s Day and 1821 Greek Heroines, highlighting the women of the astir important epoch of Greek history, the instauration of a modern state which came via blood, sweat and tears.

One of the astir important exhibitions and 1 that personally breaks my bosom arsenic a descendent of Asia Minor, was “Smyrna Ablaze”‘ for those who are alert of oregon possibly ne'er heard of this large metropolis and its tragic nonaccomplishment implicit a period ago, her work allowed us to transit done clip to beryllium successful Smyrna arsenic the catastrophe unfolded.

The artist’s large work has been critically acclaimed and recognised, arsenic she has been awarded accolades successful Australia and Greece.

In the 1990s Kiki was the decorator and coordinator for the Patras Carnival/City Council, the 1992 decorator of the uniforms of Greek delegates and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Greece for The Mediterranean Games successful Cyprus, and winner of the Industry Award of Excellence.

In 2021 4 of her paintings from Kiki’s bid HEROES of 1821 were chosen by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, His Eminence Marcarios, to people the authoritative Stamps for the Bicentennial Revolution of 1821.

Photo: Nia Gitsas

Kiki stated:

“My 1821 Greek Heroes series, is an illustration of my interior feelings, passionateness and tendency for state coming from my taste upbringing which is cardinal to my archetypal creation series. I person large joyousness coating with the travel of vigor from within my soul utilizing antithetic mediums and creation styles depending connected the temper I americium successful when starting a caller portion of art. I ever bespeak connected the subject substance which has inspired me, particularly the revolution.”

“Ode to Freedom” illuminates the long–standing ties betwixt Greece and New South Wales, celebrating shared values of courage, democracy, and resilience.

Among the standout works which will beryllium connected accumulation includes is her striking mentation of Lord Byron, honouring his profound transportation to Mesolonghi and his enduring bequest within the Greek struggle for freedom.

The postulation besides turns its attraction to Australia, with pieces that illuminate the stories of the archetypal Greeks successful Australia, including a tribute to Katherine Crummer (née Plessos), the archetypal known Greek woman to settee successful Australia. Crummer’s beingness reflects an aboriginal and important section successful the shared past of Hellenism and NSW.

The creator told Neos Kosmos she wants audiences to “reflect connected state not lone arsenic a humanities achievement, but arsenic a surviving value shaped by courage, sacrifice and idiosyncratic choice”.

“Through art, past and symbolism, the accumulation encourages viewers to prosecute with the enduring bequest of the Greek War of Independence, the historical exodus of Messolonghi and its broader connections to Australia, highlighting however the pursuit of state has resonated crossed cultures and generations arsenic well arsenic continents.”

The accumulation captures themes of resilience, including that of Catherine Crummer, the accumulation will punctual curiosity, dialog and learning.

“The tribute to Katherine Crummer emerged organically done my long–term creator engagement with the Greek War of Independence and its heroes. It was Dr Panagiotis Diamadis who introduced maine to the humanities facts surrounding Katherine’s beingness and encouraged maine to research her story much deeply. His penetration sparked a profound involvement that led maine to further research, including my ain hunt for her sedate astatine Waverley Cemetery successful Bronte.”

Kiki continued:

“Katherine grew up successful the palace of Ali Pasha, Ioannina. Officially she was engaged to Ioannis Kolettis who aboriginal became the Prime curate of Greece but ultimately joined Captain James Henry Crummer a British Army officer, veteran of the Battle of Waterloo. She travelled to Australia successful 1835 with precocious κοινωνικά standing owed to her husband’s subject rank. She was reportedly the past surviving idiosyncratic to person met Lord Byron successful Messolonghi.”

Hence the unthinkable story of Katherine’s was revealed to the creator and became a earthy acceptable for the exhibition, arsenic a humanities communicative and arsenic a profoundly quality one.

AHEPA Sydney & NSW Inc will support the “Ode to Freedom”, exhibition, which is commemorating the 200th day of the Exodus of Mesolonghi adjacent month. The heartbreaking story will beryllium visually told, an accumulation which our assemblage and broader assemblage will truly appreciate.

Nia Gitsas, the President of AHEPA Sydney & NSW, explained that Ode to Freedom is simply a profoundly idiosyncratic and corporate milestone.

“Presenting this accumulation is the effect of months of dedicated work and reflection connected however champion to commemorate the 200th day of the Exodus of Messolonghi. Central to our discussions was the value of highlighting the enduring connections betwixt Greece/Australia, an thought strongly advocated by Dr Panagiotis Diamantis, symbolised done the story of Katherine Crummer.”

The accumulation frankincense brings together history, creation and civic values done the work of the renown artist.

Photo: Nia Gitsas

“Angela Kiki Konstantinopoulou’s work powerfully honours the timeless ideals of ideology and state that sit astatine the bosom of the Greek spirit and are foundational to Australia’s ain antiauthoritarian tradition. It was this shared acceptable of values that inspired my determination to spot Ode to Freedom presented within the NSW Parliament,” Gitsas said.

The support of Steve Kamper, NSW Minister for Multiculturalism, and the Consul General of Greece successful Sydney, Georgios Skemperis, of this inspiring postulation is appreciated by the President.

The accumulation will beryllium showcased astatine the Fountain Court, NSW Parliament House, from 5-28 May 2026.

The artist’s quality to span past and contiguous honouring the bequest of freedom, resilience, and quality spirit has positioned her arsenic a distinctive originative voice within Australia’s multicultural creator landscape. The work is characterised by a meticulous attraction to storytelling, reflecting years of dedicated probe into the heroes and defining moments of Hellenic history. The accumulation will beryllium inspiring.

*Billy Cotsis is the writer of 1453: Constantinople & The Immortal Rulers