aria aira | cv

7/28/2019 Aria Aira | CV

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A brief portrait of a young artist with a deep love of other folk cultures, multicultural art

forms, exotic colours and materials and an inner energy driving constant experimentation

with new art and craft creations.


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Education and Qualifications2003- 2009 High School Diploma from the American International School of Cyprus (AISC).

This is an English-speaking secondary school in Cyprus offering high quality education with a

strong basis in liberal arts. Its students come from approximately 30 different countries; this

gave me the opportunity to study in a truly multicultural environment which stimulated my

interest in other cultures and religions.

2010-2013 BA Degree in Contemporary Applied Arts at the University of Hertfordshire, UK

(expected completion in June 2013).

This degree combines a sound theoretical background with a strong practical

emphasis on the development of skills in various crafts -- such as jewellery, glass

making, textile design and pottery. An important feature of the course is its

emphasis on workshops and studio projects which allow students to engage in

research and creative interpretation, and to thereby develop their personal interests

and unique identity.

2012 One Semester ofAnthropology, Sociology and Dance at the University of Nicosia,

Cyprus.

I took these courses in order to develop my understanding of how modern societies work,

how other cultures differ and how globalization changes the contemporary world; also, to

learn the art of dancing and the use of the body as an instrument of art to supplement my

other craft skills.

Skills and other courses

While studying at secondary school and later on at the university, I attended various courses

of short duration to develop areas which were not covered through my formal education (or

if they were so covered, to explore certain aspects more thoroughly). Besides developing

various dexterities in the arts and crafts, I tried to work on body skills and body control --

which are useful in complementing my formal studies through the development of a more

holistic approach to life.

2008 (September June)

Photography and Photography Design

I completed two short courses (3 months) on general photography in which I learned thebasic principles of how a camera works and developed initial skills in photography; I


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subsequently continued with a more advanced short course (3 months) in photography

design which dealt with layout principles.

2009Autumn (October- December)

Candle making

Worked with the Greek artist Iulia Kaloutsa, assisting her to create a range of candles, in

different colours, for a Christmas exhibition (and sale) she was organizing. During this time I

learned much about this art form and created and had the chance to exhibit my own

creations. Overall I acquired knowledge on the techniques used in melting, colouring,

scenting and shaping wax, and embedding wicks.

Once the collection was ready I assisted in build the exhibition space and in the opening up

of the show; this was a great experience as it taught me a lot about the various stages

involved in setting up an art exhibition.

2010 Summer (June- July)

Mosaics

Worked with the Greek artist Anna Koutsoumba on the creation of a mural mosaic project.

During this process I learned how to use a panel as a base on which to draw a design, and

how to use cut tiles to build the design. I hence acquired skills on cutting tiles and glass;

assembling the tiles with a sense of direction so as to create movement and/or depth in thedesign; gluing and casting individual 3-D objects (such as stones and ceramic fish) into the


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overall mosaic design. During this project I also learned to make my own ceramic tiles and

used a cement mixture to install the mosaic mural on the installation site.

2011 Spring (April-May)

Interior Design

Worked with a crew of artists in renovating an old bar and turning it into a contemporary

bar/ caf named Svoura (spinning top).During this process I was required to accomplish a

number of different tasks such as: bringing old furniture and flooring back to a good

condition through sanding down the wood, staining and polishing it; painting walls and

tables; using second hand objects to create decorative pieces; providing innovative ideas on

how the various tasks and items could be constructed in an efficient and cost-effective

manner.

2011 September - Summer 2013

Contemporary Applied Arts BA Degree

In the first year the degree started by providing an introduction to the workshops and

provided a basic education on various crafts techniques -- such as jewellery making, glass

making, textiles and ceramics; in the second year students specialized in one of these crafts

developing more specialized skills in their area of preference; in the third it focused more on

the research and writing of a dissertation paper, which the students were later expected to

use as a basis to develop their own collection through a guided development procedure,

between tutor and student. In parallel the degree included a business module on how to sell,

promote and use business skills in the market.

The overall skills and techniques I personally developed during the years were the following:

Jewellery

Basic techniques of jewelry making using metal, wood and plastic including: imprinting on

metal, wax casting, enameling, handling basic jewellery making tools, shaping and imprintingon plastic, cutting, sanding and drilling on wood.

Ceramics

Coiling method, imprinting, glazing and throwing.

Glass

Etching method, melting glass onto layers of fiberglass to create 3-D shapes; how to colour

glass using pigments and how to use stencils so as to create pattern in of colour onto glass.

Textiles


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Sewing machine skills, felting, dying and printing on fabric using heat transfer. I especially

developed and explored skills in sewing textile pots/baskets in my final year of studies (my

final year exhibition work consisted of two collections of textile basketry).

2013 Spring (March-April)

Workshops in Morrocco

As part of my final year dissertation I was required to research a topic surrounding a craft

which intrigued and inspired me. In this context I decided to participate in two workshops in

Morocco trying to find out what it was in Moroccan art which caught my interest since my

first visit there, in 2006.

This proved to be a very fascinating cultural experience that gave me a different outlook on

crafts. In this trip I observed the way in which these people worked on their craft; what

astonished me was their different outlook on the requirements of a professional art space

and working environment. People in these workshops had very limited and unorganized

spaces to work in, not in any way designed as being workshops -- yet they were very content

and comfortable in what they did. The tools they used were often not specialist tools but

simply everyday items (e.g. for gluing a mixture of water and sugar was used). This trip

subsequently inspired me to write my dissertation on Moroccan zillijtiles.

Zillij mosaics


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A first workshop focused on how to make zillij(Arabic style) mosaic tiles. Beginning from a

basic square glazed tile, drawing thefurmahs (specific shapes of tiles) onto them, and using

a chisel to cut them out.

Jewellery techniques

In this second workshop in which I learned how to engrave Arabic patterns onto metal and

stone setting.

2012 Spring (May)

Teaching art

An internship teaching art and crafts to kindergarten and primary school children.

A requirement of my BA degree was an internship at any chosen area of art/ craft. To fulfil

this I arranged a placement at the American International School of Cyprus (AISC), where I


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had completed my secondary education -- only now I had to demonstrate my abilities as a

teacher of art. Upon completion I received positive formal evaluation.

2012 Summer (June- July)

Make-up and face painting

The 15th

World Bodypainting Festival

(The make-up and photography in the image above was done by me).


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I attended two workshops in the 15th

World Bodypainting Festival in Poertschach, Austria

(July 2012), and received two Certificates:

Bodypainting for Beginners (with Lymari Millot), which included different brushing

techniques, tips and tricks on how to work with different body shapes, mix colours, create

layers, and use stencils, as well as tips on how to treat and communicate with a model

ensuring their comfort and health.

Begginers Make- Up (with Einat Dan), which included a basic education on skin care, and the

basic techniques and products used for: cleaning the skin; cover up; foundation application;

shaping and colouring of the eyebrows; application of eye shadow and mascara; rouge

application; and lip liner and lipstick application. I was also given tips on which colour

combinations are more suitable for day or night make up and which colour tones suit

distinct skin colours.

Other interests and hobbies

Interests

Travelling

I have travelled in most of the EU, some parts of Northern Africa, and recently visited Asia

and the USA. I hope to travel all around the world, always aiming to learn more, pushing my

own boundaries while exploring and discovering new places and cultures.


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Yoga and dance have been a major passion in my life. I consider movement a necessity in

life as it keeps the body and mind in balance.

I have taken the following relevant courses/classes so far:

Dance courses: ballet, contemporary, improvisation, contact improvisation at the Universityof Nicosia.

Aerial Circus (trapeze, rope and silks) classes.

Hot Yoga and Asthanga Yoga classes; I have recently been accepted on a Yoga Teachers

Training Course (September 2013, in Morocco).

aria aira | cv

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