Kosta Giitsidis
Fort Street High School
FOR MY GRANDPARENTS
Painting
Oil on Tiles, Door and Tablecloth
My beloved grandparents are an integral part of my life. Their stories and traditions shape my identity. Being Greek immigrants to Australia, they endured much sacrifice, upheaval and hardship. My body of work explores the intricacies of identity: the journey of life; the way emotional and cultural connections breach geographical distances; people's small mannerisms. My work uses unconventional surfaces, such as my grandmother's tablecloth. I have represented my grandparents' life in this country, but also my deep reverence and respect for them. Their love for each other and for family has created an enduring legacy for me here in Australia.
My artmaking practice has been influenced by the study and interpretation of the following artists: Fintan Magee, Steve Huston, Pieter Claesz.
Marker's Commentary
Quiet charm and familial warmth are communicated in this three-panelled triptych, portraying an older couple. The series, painted in a realistic style, encapsulates the essence of ‘home’, and is cleverly arranged to represent a door flanked by windows, with each unconventional panel and surface serving as a portrait vignette of the artist’s grandparents. Through limited views both inside and outside the house, the portraits delineate the couple’s roles, activities and tastes, but above all they convey love. The central painting is executed directly on the wood, within the frame of a door, complete with a polished handle and hinges. It features the couple standing closely together in front of a two-storey brick home. Their smiling faces radiate kindness and love with areas of the original timber left unpainted, adding warmth to the work. This body of work symbolises the stories of many - capturing tenderness and the unbreakable bond of family.
On the left panel, a single portrait depicts the grandmother in a kitchen. Painted on tiles, the grandmother is depicted serving a generous pot of stew, large enough to feed a family. The painting embodies calm control and generosity. The right panel features the grandfather, comfortably seated in a green leather armchair, holding a cup of tea. His portrait has been cleverly set against a background of soft-toned, controlled geometric tablecloth, adding a graphic element to the composition. The series is underpinned by extensive observation and painting skill. The artist’s extraordinary control is evident in the detailed rendering of skin tones, hair, twinkling eyes and the intricate depiction of skin folds and wrinkles. These portraits not only capture the individualism of the grandparents but also express a lifetime of experience, acceptance and empathy through their facial features and stance.