The West Australian Pulse: Angel Papalazaros’ tribute to her immigrant grandparents could be Grecian earner

A family pilgrimage to Greece in 2023 inspired Hellenic Habitat, Chisholm Catholic College graduate Angel Papalazaros’ two-part oil painting that dominates a wall at this year’s The West Australian Pulse exhibition. While as grand in scale as the Parthenon in Athens, Hellenic Habitat is a tongue-in-cheek tribute to Papalazaros’ Greek heritage. Her maternal grandparents came out to Australia from the island of Rhodes after World War II, while her paternal grandparents are third-generation Greek-Australians whose ancestry goes back to Kastellorizo. Both parts of the diptych feature Ancient Greek statues of gods, set against a classic Greco-Australian suburban home in the first canvas and in a typically garish 1970s-style interior on the second. A female statue vacuums the brightly coloured carpet while Zeus sits on a cane chair, pondering his next glass of wine. “It shows the roles of men and women back in the day,” Papalazaros explained. The artist drove around suburbs settled by European immigrants in the post-WWII period before finding an ideal house with archways, balcony and columns in Dianella. Papalazaros said it was important to embrace her grandparents’ heritage and culture. Currently on a gap year while she decides what to study, Papalazaros said it was easier to paint the “figurative” statues than the impressionistic background inspired by Australian painter Stephen Bush. “I thought it was cool to mix the two styles,” she said. As regular visitor to AGWA, her goal during Year 12 was to get an artwork into the Pulse exhibition. “I am so happy, just being in the Art Gallery of WA feels really good,” she said. “Just being here is crazy.” Papalazaros’ family is justifiably “very proud”, especially her mother and grandparents. “My mum raves on about it to everyone,” she said. Several family friends are keen to purchase Hellenic Habitat, but the young artist is not sure if she wants to sell her masterpiece. She definitely does not want to split the two paintings. If a bidding war does erupt, her Pulse entry could be a nice little Grecian earner. The West Australian Pulse exhibition is free and at AGWA until August 31.