Chryssa Romanos: The Search for Happiness for as Many as Possible

The National Museum of Contemporary Art Athens is celebrating women's art this season with a series of group and solo exhibitions honouring pioneering female artists.

Chryssa Romanos left her mark as a Greek artist who played a significant role on the international art scene in the 1960s. She spent two decades in France, where she was inspired by the likes of the critic Pierre Restany and the Nouveau Réalistes. She developed a distinctive approach to art with open-ended narratives, mechanical reproduction, chance and transparency.

The exhibition The Search for Happiness for as Many as Possible offers a glimpse into her artistic journey. It takes visitors on a chronological tour, beginning with her early labyrinthine motifs and critiques of consumerism. As it unfolds, the show highlights Romanos’ take on social and political issues, the democratisation of art and its fusion with everyday life. A video work based on photographs of herself and her husband, artist and Athens School of Fine Arts professor Nikos Kessanlis, is a touching addition to the exhibition.

But the exhibition is not just a celebration of Romanos' skill; it also aims to place her work in a historical, political and social context. The title, inspired by a text by Pierre Restany, highlights the emotional and political dimensions of Romanos' work; a reminder that art and life are fundamentally inseparable.