Posidonias I–VIII, 2018
Neptune seagrass and gauze
ΕΜΣΤ Collection
Acquired 2024
Leda Papaconstantinou, one of the most prominent artists of postwar Greek art, developed a multifaceted body of work over nearly five decades, centred on the body, through which she explored issues of gender, personal and collective memory, history, politics, and ecology. From the mid-1980s onwards, Papaconstantinou developed a strong environmental concern, focusing on the relationship between humans and nature. A prime example is the Posidonias series, in which she turns her attention to the marine plant Posidonia oceanica, a unique species found exclusively in the Mediterranean. Just as the olive tree symbolises the landscapes of the Mediterranean, posidonia may be regarded as a symbol of the underwater ecosystem, possessing significant ecological value. In the Posidonias series, the artist “draws” using dried fragments of posidonia collected around her home on the island of Spetses, creating compositions that follow a geometric vocabulary.
Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows are one of the oldest and most precious ecosystems in the Mediterranean, having survived drastic geological and climatic changes while maintaining a crucial role in marine balance. Posidonia oceanica is an invisible yet vital organism of the Mediterranean: it produces oxygen, stores carbon, and keeps the waters clean, while its meadows serve as habitats for hundreds of marine species. In the Poseidonias series, Papaconstantinou explores the sensory relationship with the natural and animal world and the possibilities for its representation. Despite the formal references to a strict geometric vocabulary, the organic materials introduce a new dimension: that of fragility and decay. Through this shift, Papaconstantinou transforms a rigorous geometric aesthetic into a poetic commentary on nature. The works thus function as meditations on the balance and vulnerability of ecosystems, linking artistic practice with a deeper ecological consciousness and inviting viewers to reconsider their relationship with the natural world.
Leda Papaconstantinou was born in Ampelonas, Larissa, in 1945. She lives and works on the island of Spetses.
