SHORT BIOGRAPHY OF STATHIS KATSARELIS

I was born in Lamia, Central Greece, where my parents made mattresses and quilts. I went to Athens at the age of 18 to study navigation and between the years '76-'78 I worked on commercial ships, travelling to Africa and Europe.

At the same period I became interested in photography and was prepared to go to Australia to study and work on cinema, after my service in the airforce. It was at that time that I discovered the art of tapestry and without really realizing it, I created a small, impromptu frame-loom and weaved my own first compositions.

I contacted many public institutions and schools, while exploring and researching the art called "tapestry". Nevertheless, it was mainly through great teachers and lovers of the art that I was introduced to the art of weaving and natural dyeing. I was and still am, driven by the fascination with natural materials such as roots and herbs etc and how they are transformed into light and colour in the threads. I was also persistently practising composition and drawing.

Since 1981 I have been working on and exploring the art of tapestry. I have been through many stages in my research into the problems of style, form and composition. However, the metamorphosis of dyed threads into woven compositions still remains a magical experience.