Beyond the edge of the city

The Greek countryside is not just a set of beautiful or even picturesque landscapes, it is a multidimensional scene that contains echoes of our collective history. A history that is written on the landscape with all kinds of constructions and interventions that reflect the presence of those who lived or still live there. Beyond the morphological specificity of the Greek landscape, its inhabitants have given it unique aesthetic characteristics, many times with a touch of surrealism.

I started photographing the Greek countryside in March 2019, choosing to focus on the rural hinterland, beyond the urban and touristic centers. These areas, often overlooked, offer an opportunity to clearly discern human activity on the landscape. Observing it, one realizes that humans have an enormous power: the power to change landscapes, however this also comes with a cost that is progressively becoming more and more heavy, making it imperative to establish a balanced relationship with the natural landscape.

(These pictures are part of my first -yet unpublished- photobook project)

Phytozoe (the life of plants)

"Phytozoe" is a made up word from the Greek verb "φυτοζωώ" which literally means "I live like a plant", but when addressed to a person is interpreted as "I live a completely deprived life" or "I am in a state of withering".
In this project I am photographing the life of plants in Athens and the relationship between the Athenians and the flora of the city.

(ongoing project)

Off Season

When the crowds have packed away their sunscreen and towels and the last ice cream cone has dripped its way into the sand, the tourist areas undergo a dramatic transformation. When the start of the school year comes around, these areas seem to go into a sudden hibernation. It's as if these places, built with the express purpose of entertaining the masses, are on a well-deserved but slightly awkward vacation of their own.

Without the crowds of visitors, the true personality of these destinations comes to light - a little quieter, a little quirky and perhaps slightly unsure of what to do with itself. In this photo essay, I explore the summer resorts at their most vulnerable and authentic moments - like visiting a person in their private space, uninvited.

(ongoing project)

Time

"It is here that time sometimes falls asleep, like the meter wheel when the last lamp goes out. This is where we finally begin to see, in the dark. In the darkness that no longer fears any dawn. In the darkness that is dawn and noon and evening and night of an empty sky, of a still earth. Into the darkness that illuminates the spirit."

(From my participation in the group exhibition "Time" at Melina Merkouri Cultural Center in Athens, Greece, September 2018, text: Samuel Beckett)