I am delighted to say I have graduated from AKI ArtEZ Academy of Art and Design in Enschede. It was actually the best 4 years I had in any education because I was doing what I truly love. During this wonderful 4 years there where countless of challenges from mental challenges to AKI nearly closing down to being not sure if I will become the artist I truly wanted to be. However even though this things happened I came face to face with them and never let them put me down.
I am Thankful to all my teachers , each in a different way. Even if its learning me how to stretch a canvas or the countless of talks we had they truly shaped the artist I am today and pushed me to my boundaries. I especially want to thank – Patrick Mangnus, Udona Boerema and Arjan Van Helmond. – They have helped me immensely and I really do not know how to thank them. Patrick helped me shape the artist I am by learning me all printmaking and papermaking techniques I know today, so, without him I would still be lost in the realm of painting. Udona has helped me through tough times and talked to me about memories and we spent hours and hours looking at my paintings together to find words for them. Lastly , Arjan has challenged my way of thinking and all the political talks we had made me understand more and more how important it is to include my views and trauma of my homecountry in my art. So Thank you. Truly.
During this journey I grew immensely but also the AKI Finals 2026 exhibition was a magical process from choosing which paintings I will put in my exhibit to the countless conversations I had with all the people who visited to getting to meet great artists to getting featured in blogs of other artists such as Lost Painters to selling my art.
Last but most important Thank you mum and dad for making this all possible, without you i wouldnt know where to start or end… Σας αγαπάω, Ευχαριστώ. Χωρίς εσας δεν θα μπορούσα να το κάνω αυτό.
Thank you to everyone , really everyone that came to AKI Finals.
