Wisdom begins in wonder
- Socrates
“Each work I craft is a bridge from the divine to the arcane, illuminating the deep truths hidden within our collective unconscious; both light and dark. Through the medium of myth, poetry, play and storytelling I breathe life into ancient symbols and forgotten gods, creating an opening into the origins of our psyche and turning the timeless into the tangible.”
- Elle
Elle Drakopoulou holds an Honours degree in Creative Theory & Practice as well as Fine Art and is currently completing her childhood passion in studying Metaphysics, Archaeology and Theology at Oxford University. She has an Honorary Doctorate for her work in Creative Therapies and Creative Business Management through E.I.M.T and has had the unique privilege of studying Art Direction at the prestigious Central Saint Martins College in London. She continues her lifelong curiosity for learning with certifications in the field of play research, play therapy, alternative creative education models and Jungian studies. Her deep passions are rooted in her love of Greek mythology, depth psychology, neuroscience, theology, Hellenic mysticism and ancient and contemporary Greek art which she has studied at the University of Athens. She is a member of the globally recognised International Association of Jungian Studies, International Society of Mythology as well as the Association for the Study of Women and Mythology. She is deeply passionate about the therapeutic benefits of art, creativity, ritual, play, storytelling and their origins found in mythology and theology in native and ancient culture, running a number of workshops, presentations, retreats and tours in Greece and internationally.
Elle's creative career spans over 25 years and over several continents; working as an Art Director for Greece's most prominent Creative Agency who designed the Athens 2004 Olympics branding and logo, as well as working for trend-forecasting agencies, Sky Television, Channel Five and The History Channel in the United Kingdom with her keen understanding of the past, present and future in creative practice. She has had the privilege of working creatively for high-profile institutions such as Tate Modern, ACMI, Olympics Cultural Committee, Samsung Innovation, Melbourne Council, c3 Contemporary and the Dubai Ministry of Culture to name a few.
For five years Elle was the Creative Director, Owner and Senior Curator of one of the leading female-led contemporary art gallery’s; a creative cornerstone of the arts operating for over 20 years in supporting creatives in all modalities, showcasing thousands of artworks, curating hundreds of experiential exhibitions and facilitating a wide range of artistic and therapeutic workshops and retreats.
Born in the ancient city of Athens and raised as a global nomad Elle has had the rare opportunity of experiencing various cultures, religions and spiritual teachings. She has had the immense honour of learning and creating with various indigenous communities all over the world including living with the Yolŋu women in Far North Australia, the Bantu people of Eswatini in Africa and the Hellenic Polytheists in Attica; learning their creative philosophy, kinship and witnessing the sacred ceremonies of their ancient artistic practice. She has spent time learning ancient Greek crafts and cultural traditions, drawing directly from these immersive experiences elements from ancestral teachings and the intrinsic connection between nature, ritual, religion and spirituality which she empathetically embodies into her unique creative practice. She has studied Mindfulness & Meditation for Clinical Practice at the University of Melbourne in collaboration with the Australian Psychological Society under the guided expertise of Dr Stephen Mckenzie and has trained under Dr. Arne Rubenstein at The Rights of Passage Institute utilising ancient indigenous wisdom, culture and community to create transformational creative experiences.
Elle holds a deep respect for the natural world and is a trained Nature Based Therapist, accredited by the International Institute of Complimentary Medicine, using nature as a tool to promote health and creative wellbeing; based on the therapeutic use of sensory experiences incorporating nature, ephemeral and creative arts, journaling, deep observation, ancient philosophy, self-care and immersive embodiment into creative practice. She is a trained and accredited Sacred Circle Facilitator, allowing her to welcome open and intimate spaces for all who seek a deeper understanding of the concept of “philhellenism”; that epic journey into the inner sanctuary of authenticity and discovering the primal edges of the human experience, both positive and negative. Currently Elle straddles her time between the two hemispheres living between Australia and Europe with her two incredible daughters.
