9th BSEC Month of Culture
1-30 November 2025
In its ninth year, the BSEC Month of Culture feature “Black Sea Women in the Arts” focuses on contemporary women artists from across the BSEC region who are making a lasting impact on the cultural and creative sectors.
The ICBSS has conducted a series of online interviews with women artists from the Black Sea, who shared insights into their work through their contributions.
Yioula Koutsoubou, Zero Waste Artist/Educator | Greece
Please introduce yourself to our audience. Share with us some key information about yourself and your career, such as your educational background, participation in events like festivals or exhibitions, and any awards you have received.
My name is Yioula Koutsoubou and I come from Greece. I am a qualified agronomist by training and a self-taught artist by practice! In fact, I am a zero-waste artist. I have gained a wide range of experience working with different groups, such as children, teenagers, women, people with special challenges and at social risk, community leaders, indigenous people, refugees and migrants, people deprived of liberty, adults in rehabilitation and students of all levels, as well as university academics. I gained further experience working in different countries in Central America for six years (Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and Belize). Since 2017, I have lived in Lesvos, where I have run numerous workshops with locals and refugees. I also travel the world, participating in festivals and events, and always doing upcycling projects tailored to the occasion and the needs of each community. I reuse discarded and natural materials to create accessories, furniture, decorative and useful objects, toys, lamps, jewellery, clothes and murals, among other things. In a globalised world, my work aims to rescue 'the natural' and 'the local' in order to re-evaluate traditional practices, educate people, and raise awareness and knowledge of developing alternatives that respect nature.
Tell us about the art form(s) you work on. Share with us some interesting information about the creative process.
My love of nature and passion for art have inspired me to develop environmental education projects. I specialise in transforming waste materials into art or useful items. I also create large-scale murals individually or collectively out of waste materials. I love teaching ecological techniques and sharing ideas to inspire people to create eco-friendly art. Since 2010, I have been running workshops focused on creative upcycling. Participants are trained in the collection, selection and elaboration of found objects. Transforming seemingly useless waste into art or useful items helps us to break prevailing patterns of misinformed and wasteful consumerism, and has the ability to transform minds and habits.
If you had to present us just one of your artworks, which one would you select? Share with us the details and the message you want to communicate through this artwork.
I love all the collective murals I have created around the world! Each one has its own beauty and meaning. They are made from pieces of broken materials that bring people together and convey powerful messages to passers-by. Mosaics are there forever; they shine in the sunlight and are washed by the rain. These unique pieces of art always tell a story and encourage participants to think more ecologically.
Women artists still face many barriers and disparities. What inspires you to continue being creative and staying focused on doing what you love?
My inspiration is eternal. Being inspired is a permanent state of being and a way of life. I am excited to see how people can be inspired after experiencing upcycling workshops. The fear of damaging something new disappears, allowing the participants to relax and enjoy the process. In the end, they discover their hidden talents, boost their self-confidence, and give discarded objects a second life. At the same time, they raise environmental awareness by transforming something harmful to nature into a work of art. It's so inspiring to inspire.
Art can be a catalyst for intercultural dialogue, gender equality and social inclusion. What is your vision for the role of your work in addressing these issues?
The workshops are fully experiential. Participants of all ages and backgrounds work together, sharing their knowledge and creating art. Focusing on art does not give them the time to analyse or criticise the work of others. Consequently, they socialise with people they would not otherwise spend time with. My vision is to use the artistic process as a means of coming together, inspiring each other, and spreading knowledge and experiences that will encourage others to adopt a healthy, conscious, and self-sufficient lifestyle in harmony with the environment and its resources. Through my work, I aim to encourage the creation of economic alternatives within local communities, while promoting collaboration and solidarity through environmentally friendly reuse techniques.
Is there anything else that you would like to discuss?
Come see my work at my Facebook and Instagram pages!
Sources & photographs:
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/yioula.koutsoubou/
https://www.facebook.com/Metamorfoseto
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/yioulakoutsoubou/
Photograph No 1: The Artist: Yioula Koutsoubou
Photograph No 2: Art and Artist / Zero Waste Seal
Photograph No 3: Zero Waste Art
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Special thanks go to Ms. Yioula Koutsoubou for generously sharing her valuable insights with the ICBSS.
The ICBSS also extends its sincere appreciation to Mr. Marios Sidiropoulos from the Municipality of Alonissos, Greece, for facilitating this meaningful connection.
DISCLAIMER
This post was prepared by the International Centre for Black Sea Studies (ICBSS). It reflects the views of the interviewees only, and does not necessarily represent the views of ICBSS or its affiliated institutions. The ICBSS cannot be held responsible for any use of the information contained herein.
#ICBSS #MoC2025 #CultureBSEC #Greece #ZeroWasteArt
