I am Nikolina Karoulla, a Greek Cypriot artist from Cyprus, a country divided between Greek and Turkish communities since the Turkish invasion. Growing up in a divided land has shaped my sense of identity, belonging, and separation. These experiences often appear in my work through fragmented forms and layered imagery that reflect both personal and collective histories.
My practice moves between painting and printmaking, often merging the two. I create prints on different materials such as handmade paper, traditional paper, and natural surfaces like leaves. Using techniques like jelly plate printing, I transfer marks and textures onto fragile materials, preserving fleeting moments and memories shared with family and loved ones.
My paintings respond to my emotional state and often shift between two approaches: one that reflects heavier political themes connected to division and identity, and another that explores lighter, more joyful emotions. This balance allows space for both reflection and release.
Gesture, drips, and movement are central to my painting process. I intentionally allow paint to flow and fall freely across the surface. I cannot control where the drips will go, much like life itself, unpredictable and constantly changing. What I can control are the colours, which carry the emotional tone of each piece.
I often combine printmaking with painting, layering printed textures into my canvases. An important part of my practice is also the act of making my own canvases. Preparing the surface feels almost sacred, and the slow physical process calms and grounds me before painting begins.
Through these processes, my work explores memory, emotion, and identity, capturing moments that are fragile, fleeting, and deeply personal.
Nikolina Karoulla 