Etchings of the Aegean

Hara Bouka was born in Thessaloniki. He is a graduate of the Greek-French School "Kalamari" and the Higher School of Electronics. He worked in the private sector as a freelancer. Her creative and artistic concerns were nurtured in free art workshops covering various art forms including painting, mosaic, ceramics, stained glass, fusing, puppet making, icon painting, wood carving, jewelry, photography.

Since 2006, printmaking monopolized her interest and led her to another expressive world. Her teacher was Maria Gerardi-Passali. In addition, he attended a series of seminars by renowned engravers. She presented her work in seven individual exhibitions in Thessaloniki, Chios, Kilkis and Ioannina and in more than fifty group exhibitions inside and outside Greece. He developed more than thirty engraving educational programs for children and adults. Her works are in public and private collections in Greece and abroad. Examples: Municipal Gallery of Thessaloniki, Municipal Gallery of Chios, Sisli Cemetery of Constantinople.

Numbered engravings were offered as award mementos to honored persons by various cultural institutions of Thessaloniki, Chios, Kilkis and Ioannina. In the academic year 2012-13, she taught printmaking at the Workshop of Visual and Applied Arts of the 8th Municipal Community of Thessaloniki and edited the publication of the album "EX LIBRIS EK THESSALONIKIS", with works created by her and the students of the workshop, during of her teaching. Her engravings, from this collection, adorn the XNUMXth Volume of the Yearbook of the Thessaloniki History Center.

Her engraving was chosen for the cover of the album of the 2019th Municipal Community of Thessaloniki "Tour of the Outskirts with Etching". In this album, which also includes other engravings by her, she wrote the texts and edited the edition together with Argyro Kourakis, President of the Community in XNUMX.

Accompanying with texts the thematic units of her engraving works, she has published the following books: "About coins the reason", "About native plants the reason", "The Karagiozis mastic farmer", "Mython engravings-Plants", "Carving pastoral wood carvings", "About Dodonis is the reason". She is the co-author of the book - written in dialogues and illustrated with numerous engravings of her works - "The Chiotian tradition with tour guide Karagiozis".

Maria Moutafi was born in Exaplatanos Pella and is married with two daughters. He graduated from the Higher School of Electronics of Thessaloniki and worked as an employee of OTE, from where he retired. She was an hourly teacher at IEK for a total period of six years. Having art in her life has always been imperative as the most creative way to balance intense rhythms and manage crises.

He made independent studies of design and color, was taught various techniques and studied Art History in depth. Since 2000, he has been a member of the Association of Professional Painters of Thessaloniki, taking part in group exhibitions. The art of engraving is the focus of her artistic interest. She participated with her works in the album "Ex libris from Thessaloniki". Through engraving he feels that creation, rebirth and evolution coexist.

Her contact with the island life and especially with the Skopje landscape, the light and the color of the Aegean, were a source of inspiration, rooted deep within her, looking for ways of expression. Thus, guided by art, he began a journey of creativity and study, capturing islands of the Greek territory.