The World Art Triennial “Agia Napa 2025” to be held from May 31 to June 30, 2025 in Ayia Napa will host the painter Ritsa Andrianou. In fact, one of her works was chosen to adorn the Ayia Napa museum. The great Ritsa Andrianou comes from Salamis and has participated in more than five hundred painting exhibitions.
Speaking to Famagusta News, the artist confesses the shocking truths of her life, her source of inspiration and the promise she made in front of her son's coffin.
You are a great artist who has participated in more than five hundred painting exhibitions. We will have the pleasure and honor of hosting you in Cyprus at the World Art Triennial “Agia Napa 2025”. How do you feel?
I am very honored by your beautiful warm words… Yes, I will take part in the second Triennial that will be held in Megalonisos. My joy and emotion are great… I was thrilled that one of my works was chosen to remain in the Ayia Napa museum.
You were born and live in Salamis. Is this your first time visiting Cyprus?
I have always wanted to visit your homeland…Indeed, this is the first time I have visited your island. It was a lifelong dream. I am from Salamis and we have common roots..Which date back from antiquity to our days.
When did you start painting and what inspired you to get into painting?
Nothing pushed me. I think it was always there inside me. As a little child, a prize in a children's competition in elementary school was my first trigger. It was like a breath of fresh air. The world of colors captivates me and I get lost in the dream. This is how I justify giving up medicine for painting.
Your paintings mainly deal with Greek, religious and life lessons. Where does your inspiration come from?
My inspiration comes from the subject itself. The subject that will move me, that will speak to me to pick up my paintbrush. You will never see me repeating myself in my subjects. For me, painting is also a journey. Unfortunately, if the subject does not inspire me, I cannot finish it. Everything can become a source of inspiration, from children running in the forest. From a lantern crossing the streets of Salamis. From beekeepers bending over a beehive. From a shipwreck that I myself experienced in the Pacific. From the history of our country. Which I adore. Even abstract subjects through impressionism when it is to give that something that hurts me like the fires in the Eye or the eyes that cry or the souls that flee unjustly from a war. Or even images of yesterday. Like a coffee shop from the last century or the newsagents running around or the children rejoicing with the fires of Agios Giannis or the churches of our country. As well as images both classical and Byzantine. I would need many hours and endless pages to describe my works and their inspiration.. Regarding my painting. My love for the history of my country. As all my historical works have their starting point in antiquity and our glorious Naval Battle
Through your paintings it seems that you keep your son's memory alive forever...
As for my child, it was my oath and promise that I gave in front of his coffin in the church that I would leave him immortal. It was the desperation of a mother to keep. her child who so unjustly left as close to her as possible. These works were a feat for me. My eyes filled not with tears but with blood. I stood in awe before this phenomenon. And I was fighting myself. It is very difficult for a mother to immortalize her dead child. I made 12 paintings from all the stages of his life… From a small child to his grave. As if I wanted to exorcise the evil. As if I would bring him back…..
What messages do you want to send to the public through your paintings?
But every painting is also a message...
A different message each time...
Each painting and a different story….
Such a unique story...
A story with so many different emotions...
Here you will find pain but also joy, anguish but also peace... Beauty but also ugliness....
Every painting has its own passion….
You are a fighter for life. Where do you find the strength to stand so strong?
I don't know if I represent everything you mention...
But if I wanted to summarize in just two words this power you mention, I would say...
Mother and painting….
Because in addition to the child I lost, I also have another child with 90% cerebral palsy...
So it is my sacred duty to stand close to this child as long as I can... And I can't...
And many times I try to overcome myself... Despite the motor problems I face...
And the second thing that gives me strength is painting…. Through it I continue to live….
If painting hadn't been in my life, I want to believe that I wouldn't be alive...
What messages do you want to send to readers?
Every person is different from another and every person has different problems, so I can fit all this power that a person can have into two lines...
I would say the trivial here...
To believe in himself... To try to draw strength and optimism from wherever he can...
Don't stop setting goals... And have faith. Our life is colors. We will choose the color we want.
