Students Interviews - Dora Grivopoulou ''Mapping the Within''-Moments Collective

Ypatia Kornarou
Oct 22
3 min read

Interview with ''Ypatia Kornarou''

Describe how you experienced the photographic process during the creation of the conceptual work “Mapping the Within.”

The creation of the work “Mapping the Within” was a journey of self-discovery. I began with an initial idea, but soon realized that the work itself was leading me toward a more personal, inner path. My obsessions and anxieties became its core. The collaboration with the two actresses was not merely a matter of direction. Still, a shared revelation — a field of exploration where silences, gazes, and bodies conveyed stories that words are unable to express.

Through this work, I attempt to map the inner landscape — the place where sensitivity, resilience, and understanding are born.

@Dora Grivopoulou

What is photography for you? And what do you seek to communicate through your work?

Photography, for me, is a means of introspection — a way to express what is difficult to put into words: the subtle and complex layers of inner experience that every human being carries.

Through this work, I attempt to explore self-perception, emotional memory, and the silent dialogues we have with ourselves and with others.

Within the frames, two figures emerge; they move together, touch, pause. Are they two distinct individuals, or different versions of the same self? This ambiguity is the space of inquiry.

I am interested in duality — the coexistence of presence and absence, strength and fragility, solitude and connection. I want the viewer to see not only what is apparent but also their own inner paths, to recognize within the image their own emotions.

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@Dora Grivopoulou

Since your frames contain everything from a solitary confession to the encounter of two figures, what exactly do you wish the viewer to perceive?

I am interested in allowing images to function as mirrors. For me, this means not imposing a specific meaning or narrative. I create an open space where each person can project their own experiences, thoughts, and emotions.

What interests me most is the relationship between the viewer and the image, rather than the transmission of a fixed message. I want the image to “converse” with them.

@Dora Grivopoulou

https://www.nexusmedia.gr/

Some photographs have a cool tone while others appear warmer. Was this a visual tool you used with symbolic meaning?

Absolutely. The color tones are a deliberate choice and reflect my own emotional experience. When I confront my personal “monsters,” there are moments when I embrace them and moments when they freeze me.

The warm tones represent that embrace — acceptance and empathy — while the cool tones convey distance, fear, and insecurity. They are the two sides of the same coin.

@Dora Grivopoulou

How is an idea born? Is art merely a matter of inspiration?

I believe that we are all born with an inner wisdom and inexhaustible creativity. An idea does not come out of nowhere; it springs from our connection with our innermost self and our early experiences.

As we move through life, we drift away from that connection, and art becomes the way to find it again.

For me, therefore, art is neither a luxury nor simply a matter of inspiration — it is a vital necessity, a way to remember who we truly are.

@Dora Grivopoulou

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What are your feelings today when you come into contact with photographic material from your early phase?

I feel deep gratitude and pride. Expressing myself through images fills me with emotion, connects me with my inner self, and makes me feel that I have touched my deepest core.

Perhaps, after all, this is the essence of conceptual art — it begins where explanation ends.