Rallou Malliarakis

For some years I have been working with the theme of the "birch tree.” In many instances, this startling element from nature is presented as “larger than life,” aesthetically compelling and dynamic. When working with this subject matter, I have often entered into a private interchange with these luminous pillars or stately columns, pressing well beyond the prism of realism in terms of my visual vocabulary.

In my latest work, I have shifted my focus from trunk to branch, from bold mass to delicate, intricate structures that clearly define the complexity of trees and their graceful presence in the world. My use of color is not meant to be literal, but rather explorative, subjective, and expressive. How trees with their expansive, unruly branches are transformed by light, and how they are affected by weather or time of day is currently the dominant theme of my work. Despite figurative references, many of my paintings appear to convey an imaginative, abstract quality that suggests ambiguities.

My drawings are formal finished works in which I attempt to demonstrate a wide range of tonalities as well as pictorial drama; they are not usually intended to serve as sketches or quick studies for future paintings.