In Man’s Land

No Man’s Land – In Man’s Land
Chrys Roboras 2010-2012

It has been a journey from one series to the other. My first series ‘No Man’s Land’ is about being in between two countries; Australia and Greece. In Australia, I am Greek, In Greece I am Australian. For most of my life, I have known two countries. However, I spent the majority of it in Australia. Born and raised in Australia by immigrant parents, I could not help to have the feeling of not belonging embedded in my subconscious. It may have been my father’s words that “one day we would return to Greece”, to his country, his fatherland that evoked feelings of displacement. Feelings that the place that I was already living in, the environment that I was being raised in and the landscape that surrounded me was not the right place. This eliminated the environment from my mind, made me feel very small against the enormous landscapes and direct environment that surrounded me. This emotion is something that I carried and carry with me for a very long time and now represent in the body of paintings; ‘No Man’s Land’. I believe that it is very important to understand that we are indeed very small against our surrounding landscapes. It is also important to be able to recognize the natural need of a human being to find a place to belong to, a place where there is no emotion of “No Man’s Land”.
Three years later and evolved, ‘In Man’s Land’ took over. This series does not have nomadic people. My figures are yes, at times wandering but have adapted to their surrounding environment and have a less turmoil reaction and more of a "I feel ok," accepted and adapted attitude. This journey of paintings has settled within myself the upsets of identity, belonging and acceptance. The figures are larger and dominant. They no longer hide, or chose not to be seen front on. The figures are proud standing tall. The environment and it’s landscapes can be dominating but now they seem less intimidating. You can still carry with you the thought of displacement and the emotion of ‘No Man’s Land,' but 'In Man’s Land’ has no insecurities of contemplation and doubt, they have softened into having destination and a path to follow. ‘In Man’s Land’ stands stronger and determined to belong no matter where you may be in your life. Taking time, looking down at all I see, open your eyes to a place where we all can belong to…

  • Type Painting

Hear my voice, oil on canvas, 24 x 30cm, December 2012 sold

Nothing else compares, 90 x 180cm, oil on canvas, October 2012 sold

In between, 100x 200cm, oil on canvas, November 2012 sold

Ordinary day, 70 x 150cm, oil on canvas, May 2013 sold

Empty space, 80 x 160cm, oil on canvas, October 2012 sold

Give it another try, 40 x 50cm, oil on canvas, September 2012 sold

When tomorrow comes, 80 x 160cm, oil on canvas, November 2012 sold

Feel the silence, 70 x 100cm, oil on canvas, April 2012 sold

Never broken, 60 x 80cm, oil on canvas, March 2012

This is your time, 80 x 60cm, oil on canvas, March 2012 sold

This isn’t everything you are, 60 x 80cm, oil on canvas, April 2012 sold

Feels like home, 60 x 80cm, oil on canvas, April 2012 sold

On the otherside, 40 x 50cm, oil on canvas, May 2012 sold

Clear contemplation, 40 x 60cm, oil on canvas, March 2012

Barely looking, 40 x 30cm, oil on canvas, May 2012 sold

Thought about it, oil on canvas, 40 x 30cm December 2012 sold

One last time, oil on canvas, 24 x 30cm, December 2012 sold

Long goodbye, oil on canvas, 24 x 30cm, December 2012 sold

Back to where your from, oil on canvas, 24 x 30cm, December 2012 sold

Breather, 24 x 30cm, oil on canvas, January 2012 sold

Far away, 24 x 30cm, oil on canvas, January 2012 sold

Moving on, 24 x 30cm, oil on canvas, January 2012 sold

Walk on by, 24 x 30cm, oil on canvas, January 2012 sold

Think about it tomorrow, 35 x 50cm, oil on canvas, February 2012 sold

Just a moment; look back, 35 x 50cm, oil on canvas, January 2012 sold

Going on your own, 40 x 30cm, oil on canvas, February 2012 sold

Look out, 40 x 30cm, oil on canvas, January 2012 sold

Remind me, 70 x 120cm, oil on canvas, January 2012 sold

Unwavering perseverance, 35 x 50cm, oil on canvas, January 2012 sold

Making my way, 80 x 140cm, acrylic on canvas, January 2011 sold

Looking down at all I see, 80 x 120cm, acrylic on canvas, May 2010 sold

Enjoying the silence, 80 x 100cm, acrylic on canvas, November 2010 sold

Out of the fog, 70 x 100cm, acrylic on canvas, November 2010 sold

Belonging, 70 x 150cm, acrylic on canvas, January 2011 sold

The path is free, 60 x 100cm, acrylic on canvas, June 2010, Private collection of the South Nevada Museum of Fine Arts, Las Vegas USA

Inside my head holdin' on, 50 x 70cm, acrylic on canvas, May 2010 sold

In Man’s Land, 35 x 40cm, acrylic on canvas, March 2011 Sold

Find your place, 50 x 60cm, acrylic on canvas, April 2010 sold

Leaving all behind, 50 x 60cm, acrylic on canvas, June 2010 sold

Stand tall, 35 x 45cm, acrylic on canvas, Febuary 2011 Sold

With destination, 70 x 150cm, acrylic on canvas, January 2011 sold

Looking forward, 50 x 70cm, acrylic on canvas, March 2011 sold

Been there before, oil and acrylic on canvas 50 x 140cm (diptych) December 2012 sold

Only time wait for me, 70x100cm, acrylic on canvas, January 2010 sold