Discovery
Understated elegance, talent and a fiery passion for her work is what defines Elena Syraka. I had known her for several years but was not fully aware of her talent and commitment to her craft. Elena’s compositions cover a vast range of symbols endowing historical and cultural symbols with modern relevance and meaning. A Magic Cabinet is proud to feature work from two of her collections, Idols and Bat Bone.
Idols’ principal inspiration are Cycladic figurines, but also their influence on the Titans of twentieth century art: Picasso, Matisse, Giacometti, Brancusi and Henry Moore. The pieces feature the iconic Cycladic female silhouette and some symbols such as Picasso’s bull and Matisse’s leaf. In creating Idols, Elena took her unique perception and understanding of ancient Greek civilization and sculpted her version thereof.
The Bat Bone collection is inspired by the Greek expression “you’ve got the bat’s bone” meaning that you will be particularly fortunate in all your undertakings.
Elena’s compositions cover a vast range of symbols endowing historical and cultural symbols with modern relevance and meaning. A Magic Cabinet is proud to feature work from two of her collections, Idols and Bat Bone
Memory
Elena’s background as a stylist enabled her to blend different visual and cultural elements in her work and to endow jewellery with an identity, which takes it beyond accessorizing. Even during her high school years, she would review her party outfit one hour before heading out, only to assemble an accessory to merge with her clothes. She studied fashion and jewellery design at the renowned Veloudakis Fashion School in Athens. She then went on to obtain a diploma from ESMOD in Paris, a leading fashion design school.
Her work combines unconventional design and unusual materials. The forms are so striking and dramatic that Elena is often commissioned to design for film and theatrical productions.
Research and experimentation with raw materials all take place in Elena’s studio. She isolates herself and lets her imagination guide her. Once the design is complete, its execution is shared and discussed with the craftsmen, who make technical adjustments and the final implementations.
Elena merges styles and cultures with passionate energy and yet devotion and respect to these legacies. She instills ancient symbols with sustained existence, adding a modern and contemporary twist
Narration
Elena’s workshop is situated in the centre of Athens. She values the talent and intuition of the craftsmen that work alongside her. They can technically facilitate her ideas and turn a concept into a realized object. Even in the case of the most obscure design, they never betray her inspiration and always find technical and craft-based solutions.
Ancient civilizations essentially inform her aesthetic. Elena merges styles and cultures with passionate energy and yet devotion and respect to these legacies. She instills ancient symbols with sustained existence, adding a modern and contemporary twist.
