Noblessner, Kai Art Center building – Peetri 12, 10415, Tallinn, Estonia, +372 6405770, info@temnikova.ee. Opening hours: 
Wed—Fri 13—18, Sat 14—18. 

Sevina Tzanou

Sevina Tzanou (b. 1994, Athens) lives and works between Bonn and Athens. Tzanou’s paintings delve into the construction and representation of femininity and hyper-femininity within the historical language of painting. Her large tableaux open a window into the worlds of burlesque and drag performance—a subculture she actively participates in as a performer. Tzanou’s works blend scenes of nightlife, where glamour teeters on the edge of the anarchic, with more introspective moments depicting individual or historical performers “behind the curtain.” In doing so, she creates dynamic and complex depictions of women, exploring ideas of performance that exist both on and off the “stage.” Tzanou addresses the mythology and expectations surrounding the female form, oscillating between attraction and repulsion. Her vibrant scenes recall life’s debauchery, full of decadence, humor, and tragedy. Her exuberant paintings emerge from the shadows of abstraction, bursting into a cacophony of bodies, limbs, and faces that together exude decadence, desire, and disaster.

Sevina’s latest work draws on notes and sketches she recorded over the summer in Athens. During this period, her grandfather suffered an accident that diminished much of his clarity and connection with the world. Like many men in her family, he was a sailor, and they shared an understanding of solitude and distance from home. In an attempt to bridge the gap, she sought to connect with him through his favorite films and music.

By referencing Greek folk memorabilia, music, and art, Sevina weaves these influences into melodramatic scenes that explore identity. She reflects on her twelve years of migration and feelings of alienation, navigating clichés and expectations tied to her heritage. At the same time, she processes a deep sense of Heimweh—a longing for home, influenced by a satirical view of Greek cinema’s golden era.

In her self-portraits, she reduces herself to this one facet of her identity, akin to a laterna—an old street instrument that repeats the same songs once wound up. Through this, she recreates familiar clichés, using clear symbols that communicate both within Greece and beyond.

Tzanou studied in Düsseldorf under Katharina Grosse, Eberhard Havekost, and Yesim Akdeniz. Her most recent solo and group exhibitions include: "Pink October", Mana Foundation, Athens (2024); "Unapologetic WomXn", Palazzo Bembo, Venice (2024); "The Great Disastress", Kendall Koppe, Glasgow (2023); "final fantasy", Temnikova & Kasela Gallery, Tallinn (2023); "Spikes That Bite", Margot Samel, New York (2023); and "Parties I Am Not Invited To", Robert Grunenberg, Berlin (2022). She has also performed at Kunstmuseum Bonn and Kai Art Center, Tallinn (both 2023).

Selected works

View: ,
4757.{$ext}

Buzz Buzz Buzz

acrylic, oil, canvas 200×150cm 2023

4757.{$ext}
4758.{$ext}

And It’s Just Because

acrylic and oil on canvas 200×150cm 2023

4758.{$ext}
3244.{$ext}
3249.{$ext}
3250.{$ext}
4759.{$ext}

34°7'22"N 118°20'50"N

acrylic, oil, canvas 170×150cm 2022

4759.{$ext}
3245.{$ext}
3246.{$ext}
4532.{$ext}

Medusa dances for Friends

Oil on Cotton 200×150cm 2021

4532.{$ext}
4539.{$ext}

Medusa

Oil on Cotton 200×150cm 2021

4539.{$ext}
4761.{$ext}

The Boa

garbage bags 200×40cm

4761.{$ext}
3243.{$ext}

Gallery Exhibitions

Other Exhibitions

Fairs

Press