Ongoing on Nicosia’s art scene is a solo exhibition by Polis Yerolemides at E.KA.TE. (Cyprus Chamber of Fine Arts). Running until January 21, the exhibition features classic portrait and impressionistic landscape paintings using a variety of colour tones.
“Portraits do not only depict individuals but also history,” says the artist. “This work is a collaboration between my ex-colleagues and me and it started in November 2019 while I was employed at Innovation/Leo Burnett advertising agency. It took about two years to complete and it was finished in March 2022.”
The large-scale paintings feature life-size portraits and present a body of work and techniques that Yerolemides has been practising in the last few years. “2022 was a very interesting and rewarding year with many challenges,” he said, “painting outdoors (en plein air) and in the studio. ‘En plein air’ is the French expression for ‘in the open air’, and plein air painting, is the act of painting outdoors. It is about leaving the four walls of the studio behind and experiencing painting on location in the landscape and the open air.
“Painting outside” he added, “is very challenging due to the fugitive light and constantly changing atmospheric environmental conditions, but it enables a true, deep connection to nature. Being surrounded by all the splendour of the scenery, the true spirit of nature is infused into the work.”
Most of the exhibited paintings were created outdoors with some finishing touches done at Yerolemides’ studio and now make part of his latest solo exhibit.
Portrait and Landscape Painting Exhibition
By Polis Yerolemides. Until January 21. .KA.TE. (Cyprus Chamber of Fine Arts), Nicosia. Tel: 22-466426
