Marialena Bacha
she/her
Athens, Attica, Greece
Marialena Bacha, born in 1998, is an innovative artist based in Athens (Greece), studying and working in the silversmith field. She is experienced in classic techniques and contemporary jewellery making.
She has studied at Anamma Art Jewelry School (2018-2023), Ε.Σ.Σ. GALILEO (2017-18) and MOKUME ΚΟΣΜΗΜΑ Α.Ε. Basic silversmithing courses (2016-2017). She has attended the workshops “Modular necklaces” of Lavinia Rosseti (2022), “Pin mechanisms & brooch back design” of Daniela Malev (2021) and “Cosmic power” of Estella Saez (2020).
She has participated in group exhibitions such as “[queerphoria]:Adorned Serenity” by Queer Metalsmiths (2023), “This jewellery is 100RMB” by Vonmo studio (2023),and “ROOTS” exhibition by Anamma studio (2022). She is currently working at GAVALAKIS-Jewelry workshop (2021-today) and has taught lessons at Communitism "Soft wax beginners lessons" (2023) and Labiko Studio "Tamata workshop" (2024).
“In my work, I seek to honor and uplift the people and bonds of the queer community, particularly those who have been silenced, erased or are no longer with us.
This project is a tribute to the Greek LGBTQ+ people who have come and gone. Regardless of how well we personally may have known an individual or not, their work, stories, and memories live on through those that remain.
In creating this piece, I aim to reflect on the past, to honor the connections that once were, and to forge new ones by making visible the history of Greek queer lives.”
How does your work relate to the theme connection?
“My piece, inspired by the imagery of fishing weights and ancient Greek necklace decorations, will connect two people through two rings linked by a chain. This chain bears small drop beads that I have created, each engraved with the name a deceased queer individual from Greece. Each weight acts as a metaphor, symbolizing the immense burden of loss carried by the queer community.
It connects two people literally, in the physical sense, but also emotionally. Jewelry, worn or held close to the body, symbolizes the intimacy of identity, an expression of self and the bonds we forge with others. It is a physical manifestation of the connections that define us, both individually and collectively."
What role does connection play in your creative process?
“I enjoy working with wordplay, taking the prompts literally often leads to interesting results and symbolism.
As a result, the work I envisioned for Queerphoria had to create a connection in both a literal and physical sense for the wearer. Hence two rings with a chain literally connecting the users. As well names that create an emotional connection. I myself felt tied up with the people presented on my work, it's research was emotionally charged."
What connection(s) does your queerness make to the world around you?
“I believe my queerness helps me build connections of like-minded people. Be it queer or not, I have control of creating a safe and understanding environment.
There, ideas of feminism, tolerance, freedom of speech, artistic freedom and the like are far more prevalent and they create a healthy and trusting place for more people to join, and make connections themselves. Thus the community I have built around me flourishes. Connections aren't necessarily people close to me. But it's always people that I can connect through my ideology."
Anything else you would like to share about this work? This can be an important part of the process, sourcing materials, or research.
“A big part of the process was researching the names showcased on the weights. Some of them were fairly well known artists, activists and entertainers. Some of them were just people trying to live their lives the way they wanted to. Some left in their time and some were pulled from our arms. So many different people gone, but the pain of their loss is felt through the Greek queer community.
This exploration of history is essential for shaping the future, for being the change we wish to see, and for understanding the intricate and beautiful tapestry of connections that define our community.
Below is the list of names and the year they passed.
Kavafis(poet,1933)
Mitsos Papanikolaou(poet,1943)
Napoleon Lapathiotis(poet,1944)
Kostas Tachtis(writer,1988)
Dora Rosetti(writer,1989)
Manos Handzidakis(composer,1994)
Sotria Belou(singer,1997)
Nana Hatzi(sex worker,2015)
Aloma(drag queen,2015)
Evangelia Vlami(activist,2017)
Zakie(activist,2018)
Vangelis Hatzinikolaou(actor,2020)
Demetra of Lesvos(2021)
Marina Galanou(activist,2021)
Melina Bali(2022)
Anna Ivankova(performer,2023)
Diona Dallas(drag queen,2024)"
"Through Loss", Brass, 16.1" × 1" × .3", 2024