Artwork
Ερωτικό.
Ερωτικό. is an unspecified painting by Vassiliki Boukoni. It dates from 1997 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Organisation of Museums of Visual Arts of Thessaloniki – MOMus.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1997 by Greek artist Vassiliki Boukoni, “Ερωτικό” is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography. The work is presented as an image rather than a traditional canvas, and its title, rendered in Greek, translates to “Erotic.” The piece invites viewers to contemplate an ambiguous central form set against a weathered background.
Subject & Meaning
At the heart of the composition lies a dark, rounded mass that suggests a heavy drapery or a looming shadow. Its indeterminate nature resists a single interpretation, prompting speculation about themes of concealment, intimacy, or the passage of time. The faint lines and muted tones surrounding the form add a sense of lingering memory or decay.
Technique & Style
Boukoni employs thick, impasto brushstrokes that create a tactile surface, especially where lighter patches break through the dominant darkness. The edges of the central shape appear rough, revealing the artist’s hand and emphasizing materiality. The background resembles aged paper or a faded wall, its worn texture reinforcing the work’s abstract, gestural aesthetic.
History & Provenance
Since its completion in the late 1990s, the work has remained within the Museum of Ethnography’s holdings, where it is displayed among other contemporary Greek pieces. Its acquisition reflects the institution’s interest in documenting post‑modern Greek visual culture and the evolving dialogue between abstraction and thematic suggestion.
Context
The late 1990s saw Greek artists exploring abstraction as a means to address personal and collective narratives. Boukoni’s “Ερωτικό” aligns with this trend, employing non‑representational forms to evoke emotional resonance rather than literal depiction. The piece’s ambiguous title and visual language echo broader European movements that favored mood over explicit storytelling.
Artist & collection
Artist
Vassiliki Boukoni liked to mix sex and politics in the same sentence, literally. She once silkscreened a politician’s face onto an erotic Greek vase because, she said, “They both talk too much.” Her 1997 painting…
Museum
Metropolitan Organisation of Museums of Visual Arts of Thessaloniki – MOMus
Continue through works from the same source collection.
