“Every child starts drawing at an early age – I just never stopped.” Greek Australian artist Sirmano (AKA Anna Manolatos) was encouraged in the arts by her family, who are incredibly creatively driven, she says, as a way to make sense of the world, and put on paper a child’s reality of what they are seeing. And – as she says herself – she never stopped.
Since her very first drawing to the Christmas cards she made as a child, Sirmano says that her family have been the biggest fans of her artistic pursuits letting her, “explore her dreams”. “I know deep down they love the strange creations and characters with the big feathered hats and long elongated legs that come out of my mind.”
As a qualified graphic designer, Sirmano decided to combine her work on the computer with her passion for pen and paper basics. She is an artist who constantly explores, gathers and creates. Her style takes from what we see as real and transforming it onto paper in a playful world where her characters live. She hopes people smile and laugh when they see her art and also enjoy the experience that art can provide.
“I think it’s natural to evolve in what you do. If you see my works from ten years ago they are completely different to now – a constant journey,” she tells Neos Kosmos.
“I used to draw from surreal movements and now instead of painting surrealism I create my own crazy realities onto paper.” After graduating university at the Queensland College of art she travelled overseas to Spain where she soaked up the influences offered by different cultures and experiences. “Europe has a completely different pace and energy, it’s full of magic around every corner…
I find inspiration through art history,” she explains. “Young people are creating a fresh, new and diverse artistic world which I just can’t resist, there is no lack of inspiration or mediums.” And being in Europe, she was able to get back to her roots in Greece many times. The European influence is particular to her Greek background. With sketch book in tow, Sirmano plots down what she sees – the colour on the streets, nature, people and cultural happenings.
“I have never been really able to explain what I put down on paper and that interested me and is what I enjoy more about art.” In the future, she hopes to open her own gallery / creative space to allow people to relax, listen to music and create their own masterpieces. “I believe everyone has a little artist hidden inside them; it’s just about having fun and letting them out!” Sirmano has an exhibition of new works Out of Nothing which opened on Tuesday 30 October, at Brew bar in Brisbane. For more information visit www.sirmano.com.au