“Cacti is the new theme of D. Konstantinou’s paintings – a subject that is loaded with the prominent significance it imparts to it and the skillful way of processing it with bright colors, purity, detailed drawing and distinct diligence in the depiction of different textures, initially recalling color lithographs of plants and flowers of excellent precision and elegance, illustrated in19th century natural history publications. With the assemblage of various real species, she finally creates new, fantastic species-mutated cactus hybrids, which monumentally occupy the painting surface, creating a highly dreamlike, metaphysical atmosphere where, with tension and surreal, often playful and subversive mood, the erotic element arises…” writes Art historian Giannis Boli
“Α new daring has emerged in the manner in which Dorina Malliou explores her particular artistic idiom – mixed media on paper. The old “totalitarian sensuality” no longer monopolizes the field but has only one element in an extended vocabulary. What is articulated here, is much more interrogative. It concerns the interrelations of things, everything than can, or cannot, eventuate in the space in-between. The issue of pleasure remains central but the seductive variety of organic forms participates as a constituent element, rather than dominate. Aspects of subversion and abrogation invade the field as geometric forms composing a new language. The works emit the high frequency of difference, rather than identity. And, clearly, the matters under investigation are not exhausted within the painting’s frame. “ writes Μ.Phil.Konstantinos Matsoukas
