Maria Bacha Welcome!
ABOUT THE FLOWER QR CODE:
“My flower QR code is made of seaweed 
paper petals, designed with permanent black marker, wood and it was created by me for the Wandsworth Arts Fringe 2024.
- WATER SOUNDS:
“Interested in approaching the essence of the water element and attempting to find new ways to explore our connection with nature during my recent studies at RCA, I started recording inside the Thames River with a hydrophone.
Below are a few raw sounds from the heart of the river. At the beginning of this exploration, I didn’t know what I would come across. During the recording process, I encountered the strange fact that most of the sounds I was hearing and recording were weird, industrial sounds—sounds of wood, metal, or other unidentified objects knocking against the hydrophone. These sounds were nothing like the wave or gurgling water sounds we usually imagine.
At that point, I had some options. I could merge these sounds with others to create more pleasurable audio, or I could edit them to keep only the “interesting” parts. I decided not to proceed with either of those options, as any interruption would disturb the authenticity, rawness, and natural essence, as well as the real-time sequence of the recordings.
My first questions was, “Why does this river sound like that? Does this river has a voice? What does it say?” By presenting these sounds in their raw form, I hope listeners will raise similar questions.”
- WE ARE ALL BODIES OF WATER
- A NOTE ON NATURE:
NOTE 3
Beauty As a Method
I have inhaled the calmness of the sea so many times. The curved lines with their million hues of blue—grey blue, light blue, dark blue. During our dog walks, I have stared and observed every little detail of the colors, the different shapes and forms, and how they merge together so wisely. Then, it was the essence of the liquid. When I felt I could touch it and really caress it, I became one with it. I closed my eyes and inhaled it! I imagined my body—my torso, feet, and hands—filling with this exact liquid, like a vase, and then I held my breath for a while. Once I was sure I was connected with the sea, I slowly exhaled. Then, I did the same with the mountains, the sky, and the stars at night.
We live in Heaven. This is my kind of Beauty as a Method.
– Inspired by Christina Sharpe’s Ordinary Notes and her Beauty as a Method.
- ABOUT THE ARTIST:
Maria Bacha is a Greek contemporary artist currently living in London and studying at the Royal College of Art for a Master of Fine Art (MFA Arts and Humanities).
Maria earned her BA in Studio Arts from the University of La Verne, California, she studied next to the Greek painter Michalis Veloudios, attended courses at RISD and MOMA and was the Head Art Teacher for ten years at the Hadzivei Elementary School. She illustrated books for the Greek public school and she created many set designs for children’s theatrical plays. She is also a member of the Greek Chamber of Fine Arts. Maria now focuses exclusively on her art.
Works by Maria Bacha are in private collections worldwide. Also, the Greek Ministry of Culture purchased her artwork in 2020 and to date, her works have been shown at solo, group exhibitions and prestigious art fairs in Greece, London and Los Angeles.
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Maria Bacha ©2024
