Born into a political family, the daughter of the diplomatic officer Fotini Tomais and the jurist and politician Nikos Konstantopoulos, she came into contact from a very early age with important personalities, intellectuals and artists who deeply influenced her with their work and presence and introduced her to the world of art .
“I will never forget my contact with Vangelis Papathanasiou. I was only 6 years old when I played him the piece of music from “Roads of Fire” on the piano, recalls Elena Konstantopoulou.
Like a spiral
Elena Konstantopoulou talks about all this, starting with her first solo exhibition, today in “ET”. of Sunday:
“My exhibition is a deposition of soul through a timeline that overcomes the limitations set by the definition of time, as we have been traditionally taught. Time evolves circularly like a spiral and is available and alive in all its parts, uniting the past with our present and future. It is the framework within which we exist from conception and within which we have the choice to co-create our destiny. The title of the exhibition comes from the codes of the sun, which reflects on the earth and reveals all the colors, the very life in our cells, the information that is deeply stored within us conveying wisdom and codes through which we can not only to heal, but also to find our authentic truth and purpose in life.”
When did you know you wanted to paint?
From a very young age, I think I was four or three years old, I hold some… scraps of memory with the paints, papers and brushes in my hands. I believed then, with the holy confidence and wisdom that only children of that age possess, that this was what I came to do in life.
Is nature, the sea the ultimate source of inspiration for you?
The sea, the land, man, animals, all are parts of nature. It contains all the codes that philosophers and scientists have revealed to this world. Mother Earth and our organic connection to her is my ultimate source of inspiration for this exhibition. It has also been a source of inspiration for great artists for centuries now.
What do you want to offer people with your painting?
My purpose is to activate with a high vibration the space where my work is hosted. My intention is not to awaken thought, but to offer healing, energy, inspiration and relief to the soul. Through the energy therapy of my teachers I manage to detect the need of anyone who is interested in adding one of my works to their space, whether it is a work space or a relaxation space or a space with children, to ensure with the theme and the choice of colors the appropriate vibration that it will bring joy and bliss into their lives.
What do you think is missing most from the world around you?
There is a lack of understanding, mainly towards ourselves and then towards fellow human beings, children, animals, nature. We are in a state of constant, mindless hunger that is never satisfied. The greatest source of lack of understanding lies in the food we eat without thinking, the clothes we wear, the acquisition of more and more material goods, neglecting our real needs. The Mass Media, too, with its bombardment of useless information and messages, bears much of this responsibility.
How were you affected in your childhood by the visits of important spirit people to your home?
I was an extremely lucky child to have all my basic needs met, but also the joy of chatting, creating and playing with great artists. I will never forget my contact with Vangelis Papathanasiou. I was only six years old when I managed with trembling fingers to play him the piece of music from “Roads of Fire” on the piano and I remember how tenderly he hugged me sitting next to me. And while he didn’t let anyone into his studio on Meleagro Street, I had the exclusive privilege… He was the first artist I felt was using his work and his talent to activate the high vibration of energy in his listeners.
Which artists have influenced you?
Apart from Vangelis Papathanasiou, Kostas Varotsos, with the eternal blue turquoise of the glass, who did me the honor of dedicating his text to me for the exhibition. Chrysa Romanou, also, with her drawings, which I saw her drawing every afternoon for a while, as she created some works in our house. Yannis Kottis with his lemon trees for the joy, light and nature that he depicted vividly and in relief. Among the foreigners, Dali, Kandinsky and, for her daring, Frida Kahlo.
The fact that you come from a political family, while your mother was a diplomat, how did it influence your choices in general?
I only think positively and supportively, to be honest.
Could you go into politics?
Directly with the policy no. However, with projects and actions related to the empowerment of my community, as a simple citizen, yes. We have created a different environment where we live elsewhere, work elsewhere and have fun elsewhere. Our children go to activities in other areas, so we too, unfortunately, are led to a constant distraction and fail to keep in touch with our environment, with our neighbors and have forgotten the power of our community.
Have you dabbled in art in other fields as well?
Yes, I have worked as a director and assistant director at the Central Square Theater in Boston. As creative director in the creation of a documentary, as well as set designer assistant, costume designer and actor. I did my last work before I became pregnant with my daughter with the great Sofia Filippidou, in the theatrical adaptation of two unknown plays by Konstantinos Christomanos.
Dreams and plans for the future?
My participation in an international exhibition in February 2025 in Tokyo, on a topic I have chosen and connected to an important national request, and another one in New York. However, my dream is to share all that I have learned with children of all ages in an oasis next to nature and the sea combining all these therapies together with all forms of art and expression.
The many trips you have taken have opened your horizons and how?
Traveling is the biggest investment I made in my life and it really opened my horizons to new cultures, traditions, colors, tastes, ways of communication. Traveling provides you with worldly wisdom and experiences, it makes you step out of what you consider safe, it evolves you as it makes you adapt to new environments and see life with different eyes.
What is your favorite place and why?
Lemnos, if I have to choose a place for energy, food, colors, people, nature! Of course, though, there are many more places I love and connect with.
At the same time, you practice yoga and are a recognized instructor. Tell us about this area of your life. How did you approach holistic therapies?
We could talk for hours about this part. Yoga actually came about after a health issue I had coming back from Boston that turned me on to holistic therapies. It was then combined with homeopathy, acupuncture and the healing side of art. For the last four years I have been working with the traditional energy healing of the Q’eros who live in the Andes and the Shipibo tribe who live in the Amazon.
Did the birth of your daughter affect your art?
Absolutely I would say. I believe that giving birth to children offers every woman her ultimate strength and transformation, since through it she is born again. No woman is the same after this stage of transformation and awareness. When you become a mother, you are born again.
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