International Meeting of Photography Centres in Almeria (Andalucia/Spain)

Photography Center Of Thessaloniki participates to the First International Meeting of Photography Centres

in Almeria (Andalucia/Spain)

The primary aim of the First International Meeting of Photography Centres is to share knowledge and experiences among 20 photography centres from all over the world. The event, a pioneering project in Andalusia, Spain and the world, will be hosted by the Andalusian Centre of Photography, which belongs to the Andalusian Department of Culture (Junta de Andalucía).

Vassilis Karkatselis and Thanassis Raptis represent Photography Center Of Thessaloniki in the Meeting, which will be held in the Mediterranean city of Almería (Spain) on 30-31 May and 1 June 2008, at the Andalusian Photography Centre’s facilities and the Almería Museum.

Approaches: First International Meeting of Photography Centres, consisting in a photography exhibition and a publications exhibit, as well as a presentation of a publication of the same name will take place during the event. This parallel activity will remain open to the public at the Andalusian Centre of Photography until 13 July 2008.

Official languages will be Spanish and English. Simultaneous translation will be provided.

Participating countries:

Australia (Australian Centre For Photography); Brasil (Instituto Moreira Salles); Canadá (Canadian Museum Of Contemporary Photography. National Gallery Of Canada); Colombia (Fotomuseo. Museo Nacional De La Fotografía De Colombia); Cuba (Fototeca De Cuba); Egypt (Contemporary Image Collective - Cic); Slovakia (Central European House Of Photography); España (Centro Andaluz De La Fotografía); France (Montpellier Photovision); Greece (Photography Center Of Thessaloniki); England (Photofusion); Israel (The Open Museum Of Photography Of Tel Hai); Líbano (Arab Image Foundation); México (Centro De La Imagen - Ciudad De México); Perú (Centro De La Imagen - Lima); Portugal (Museu Da Imagem); Russia (Moscow House Of Photography); South Africa (Bensusan Museum Of Photography. Museumafrica); Switzerland (Musée De L'elysée); Venezuela (Centro Nacional de La Fotografía De Venezuela).

The photographers selected to represent the Photography Centre of Thessaloniki

The photographers selected to represent the Photography Centre of Thessaloniki during the 1^st Meeting of Photography Centres in Almera, have plenty of common characteristics and many differences.

The first condition was the transferability of the work; it couldn’t be an installation, or a massive work, but a flat work which could be transferred by the supervisor of the exhibition without the presence of its creator being necessary. Secondly, these works should show off the mood for play and pleasure which characterises the photographers working for the Photography Centre of Thessaloniki, to demonstrate the need for research and coexistence with the other side, and to display the non predominance or non adherence to one aspect of photography.

All of them are active members of a public debate in Greek society on the new form and the new content of photography. They are first line creators of what we call Contemporary Greek Photography Stage, interested in experimenting, and they have something interesting to offer both to the audience and to the photographers. Each of them represents a different kind of reflection and attitude towards photography. They are all (5) interested not to produce nice images, but images with spirit underlining the thoughts and the content.

Eythimis Mouratidis uses photography as a mean to comment on the changes covered by the exaggerating exposure and publicity, presents the face of a man in everyday life, the photograph after Rottela, after decoupage. He invents the accidental, but not at all by accident. Photographer’s goal is to write down the hidden implications of his fellows' acts.

Vassilis Karkatselis, in the specific project, deals with the capacities of the photo frame to include or exclude any totality of real world. His photography is on the verge of minimal with main axe the palimpsest walls. On the time of the photo frame is always presented the result of the coexistence of another graffiti action with the story of the sublayer, of a wall.

Thanassis Raptis, with traditional prints, but contemporary printing, composes a political photography which deals with the absence of the contemporary creator from social life, sometimes even from the same piece of art. The multiple takes on the same photo paper annul the unidimensional view of the world, annul the perspective of Renaissance and the camera, and annul the supposed fundamental principle of photography about the critical moment.

Stavros Dagtzidis with his work comments on the limits of intervention or the co-creation of the audience of a piece of art. What are the limits of the freedom of the audience to explain according to its opinion the presented work, what are the limits of its creative transformation by the descendant artists? To what extent are we allowed to look at a work without taking into account the framework of its creation?

Ismini Goula is a new photographer, and, as a young person, is charmed (or is she protesting against it?) by the colossal commercials (almost pieces of art) that cover (or coexist in a marvellous way) the equally colossal skyscrapers, which in sequence cover the horizon. One photography in another photography, a frame in another frame, a message in another message, the location towards another location, the question resulting from the answer.

www.fkth.gr

http://www.centrosdefotografia.es

Time Portraits - Photobiennale 2008

TIME PORTRAITS

Photography Centre of Thessaloniki participates in the concurrent programme of the 1st PhotoBiennale of the Photography Museum of Thessaloniki with the group photography exhibition "Time Portraits".

Artists: Diego Goldberg (ARG), Vassilis Karkatselis (GR), JK Keller (USA), Raj Nair (IND), Thanassis Pallas, Thodoris Tziatzios, Giorgos Chatzakis(GR)

Curator: Thanassis Raptis

Place: VLASSIS ART.COM Gallery

Duration: 15/04-15/05

Co-organization: VLASSIS ART.COM / Photography Centre of Thessaloniki

Photographic projects dealing with the issue of time through portraiture
are presented in this group exhibition, “Time Portraits”. It is about an
original production that attempts to explore some of the new
components in the art of photography as addressed by artists in the first
decade of the 21st century: new technological developments, new potentials
in accessing photography, and a global network at home to be used by everyone,
are the tools that stimulate changes in the creators’ means of expression.
Famous, celebrated Greek and foreign artists present,
each in his own way, how they face time and the traces left by the passage of time.

The exhibition is an original production attempting to explore some of the new components in the art of photography in the way this is dealt with by new artists in the first decade of the new century: new technological advancements, new possibilities when accessing photography and a world-wide network at home for use by everyone are the tools bringing about an alteration in the language of expression of the creators.

The Photography Centre of Thessaloniki has chosen works representative of these trends by well-respected artists, both Greek and foreign, who each on their own way deals with time and its passing and the markings it leaves not only on the body but also on the mind and the soul of man. The works are made up of visual constructions and installations, interactive multimedia presentations, video showings and of late internet-based visual explorations.

Diego Goldberg in his work “The Arrow of Time” presents pictures of himself and his family taken during the time spanning from 1976 to the present day while Raj Nair having stated the influence of Goldberg on him has been taking pictures of his family for the past seven years. We tracked down the photographers through the Stumblevideo website.

JK Keller in ''Living My Life Faster: 8 years of JK's Daily Photo Project'' takes pictures of himself everyday on the same spot for 8 consecutive years and projects these pictures like a movie with a rapid alternation of the images accompanied by music. The alternations in his facial expressions are impressive. We picked this photographer from the YouTube website.

Vassilis Karkatselis presents 600 portraits from the field of photography or plucked from obscurity. Our friends are a part of our own reality and so are their photographs. But whose reality is the fleeting projection of an image on the wall?

Yiorgos Chadjakis and Thodoris Tziatzios present their photographs in 3D video form using the techniques and aesthetics of the Matrix movies (the so-called “time slice” effect. The opinion that photography freezes or rather condenses time is quite prevalent. In this work, the moment is stretched to the “mythical” time of 8 seconds.

Thanasis Pallas presents the work “IMAGE” (The Image That Sees- Multimedia installation). The Spectator approaches an Image-Screen realizing that the Image represents his digital mirror-image and that within unfolding events faces such as his own appear.

Thanasis Raptis
Photographer- Curator of the exhibition “Time Portraits”

Green Spaces

Prizes of the International Photography Contest

Few days ago was completed the selection process of the prizes for the international photography contest with the subject: “Green Spaces”. In the contest participated 80 photographers. The jury panel gave 3 prizes and 4 praises and was selected 70 photographies of 45 photographers, that are going to be presented in a dig photography exhibition, which will take place in the former Paulou Mela Camp in Stavroupoli – Thessaloniki, during the manifestations for the International Day of the Environment. The inauguration ceremony of the exhibition will be held in 4 June. The jury panel, which was consisted of three members: Mr. Dimitrios Paschalidis, Vice-Mayor of the Stavroupoli Municipality in charge of Cultural Affairs, Mr. Yannis Tsalikidis, Professor of Landscape Architecture, Faculty of Agronomy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and one accomplished photographer from the Photography Center of Thessaloniki, Mr Efthimios Ioannidis selected the following photographs.

1^st prize

Aleka Tsironi from Thes/niki “Thessaloniki – 05/2007”

2^nd prize

Dr. Teodor Radu Pantea from Roumania

“ Christo’s World 2”

3rd prize

Giotopoulos Vaggelis from Preveza “flappings “

1^st praise

Robert Semnic

from Serbia

«Gracile Concrete»

2^nd praise

Olga Tzimou

from Athens

«paint the town green»

3^rd praise

Konstantinidis Michalis from Serres “Sidirokastro”

4^th praise

Giavis Konstantinos from Athens “Athens”

ΜUNICIPALITY OF STAVROUPOLI

BOTANIC GARDEN OF STAVROUPOLI - PHOTOGRAPHY CENTER OF THESSALONIKI

“Axios – Ludias – Aliakmonas Deltas: an uknown treasure”

International Photography Contest
Subject: “Axios – Ludias – Aliakmonas Deltas: an uknown treasure”
The Authority for the Management of the Protected Area of Axios – Ludias – Aliakmonas Deltas and the Photography Center of Thessaloniki, aiming at highlighting the mentioned protected area and raising environmental awereness on its ecological values, proclaim an international photography competition with the subject “Axios – Ludias – Aliakmonas Deltas: an uknown treasure”.
The photographers are invited to visit and photograph the area which extends to 320 sq.klms and consists of the Axios and Aliakmonas Deltas, the Gallikos and Ludias Estuaries, the Kalohori Lagoon and the Kitros Saltmarsh. The area is protected by European legislation (is a member of the Natura 2000 network) and international conventions (Ramsar Convention). Its wetldands provide the locals with irreplaceable natural resources and the fauna and flaura with a hospitable haven. More than 200 species of birds can be observed here, many of which rare or threatened.
No technical, colour or other limitations are set by the organizing committee, the contestants are invited to impress with their personal look.
Terms of the contest.
● Participation in the contest is free. Any professional or amateur photographer may submit photographs, with no discrimination whatsoever.
● Any interested individual may enter the contest with a portfolio, single photographs or a series of photographs.
● All images should be submitted (by post or in person) only at the following address:
Foreas Diahirisis Delta Axiou – Ludia - Aliakmona
Halastra ,57300
Thessaloniki, Greece
(To the attention of: Photography Contest)
Submission deadline: 31-08-2008 (postmark)
● The jury panel shall consist of representatives of the Authority of Management and of the Photography Center, and of one accomplished photographer.
● The judgement of the jury panel shall be final. No objection or other claim shall be accepted.
● Each photograph must be printed on paper size of at least 20×25 cm. At the back of each photograph (even if it is part of a series) the following information should be written: title of the photograph (if any); location where the photograph was taken; the photographer’s full name, address, phone number and e-mail address (if any). Also, for the needs of the catalogue, the photographs should be sent in digital archives of the same size, in resolution 300 dpi.
● Languages: Greek, English
● The submitted material shall not be returned.
● The images to be selected by the jury panel shall become the main part of a large photography exhibition that will be initially
presented in the city of Thessaloniki and subsequently in other locations inside and outside Greece. The first exhibition of the photographs shall begin in the first week of October 2008.
● The expenses for the exhibition of the images shall be borne by the organizer.
● At least 60 of the prize-winning photographs of the exhibition shall be included in a luxurious catalogue / album, which shall be sent to all prize-winning photographers.
● 13 of the photographs shall be included in a 2008 calendar to be published by the Authority of Management of the Protected Area of Axios – Ludias – Aliakmonas Deltas.
● Additional prizes shall be announced very shortly. The prizes shall be awarded at a special ceremony.
● The contest results shall be announced on the internet and made known to all participants.
● The copyright of the catalogue and calendar belongs to the Botanical Garden of Stavroupoli. The copyright of the individual photographs belongs to the photographers.
● All works may be used to publicize the contest and its goals in any medium and in any manner. The contest participants are not entitled to any remuneration whatsoever.
● Participation in the contest means the unconditional acceptance of all terms referred above.

Authority for the Management of the Protected Area of Axios – Ludias – Aliakmonas Deltas -
Photography Center of Thessaloniki

Cheap Photo in Thessaloniki

Everybody can buy photo works now!

In an attempt to contribute to the rise of market value of photography as work of art, the Photography Center of Thessaloniki organises for the sixth consecutive year the Cheap Photo exhibition at Tettix Gallery, Thessaloniki. The show is on view from December 7, 2007 to January 15, 2008.

Participant artists in the exhibition are Christos Kyriazidis, Emmanouil-Nikolas Panteris, Amalia Evangelopoulou, Eftichis Andreadakis, Yannis Tsiroglou, Anna Kourtza, Vicky Maria Ioannoy, Angeliki Mitsi, Thanassis Raptis, Argyris Liapopoulos, Vassilis Karkatselis, Dionyssia Geka, Thomas Filios, Fotini Lamboudi, Elpida Katsika, Olga Tzimou, Efi Petala, Thomas Kostamis, Thalia Karafilli, Evdokia Kontova, Georgia Kourkounaki and Kimon Axaopoulos.

CROSSROADS

CROSSROADS

In the frame of Biennale1

The Photography Centre of Thessaloniki participates in the concurrent programme of the 1st Biennale of the State Museum of Contemporary Art with the group photography exhibition "Crossroads".

The opening of the exhibition will take place on Monday, September 10th 2007 at the TETTIX gallery (Tsimiski Rd. & Dialetti 3) at 20:30 and will last through October 5th.

As cities collect distinct groups of people with varying social or national backgrounds and religious traditions as a rule, they favor "meetings" between disparate people and elements. These kinds of crossings -predictable, coincidental or unanticipated- where the subject of the
camera lenses of the Thessaloniki Photography Center’s artists Thanasis Raptis, Efthimis Mouratidis, Avgerinos Zaharias, Ismene Goula, Vasilis Karkatselis, Yorgos Papaharalambous, Tasos Deyiannis, Stavros Dagtzidis and the video by Achilleas Savopoulos.

In search of the “other city”

We are looking at the city’s crossroads and walls, at the aimless wanderings of stray dogs and the fleeting glances of passers-by as we are constantly in search of the “other city”. When exploring our familiar urban place, we discover a parallel universe of heterotopias[1]- places recklessly drifting between reality and utopia. They resemble uncharted islets that are either places where we escape from the hustle and bustle of our ordinary lives or, places of exile for any and all our inclinations. Heteroclite aspects pass across each other within this universe of heterotopias: real and imaginary, ecumenical and personal, private and public.

There are heterotopias other than the ones described by Foucault –prisons, hospitals, museums, brothels- that are not so evident and live on the sly, almost representatively such as graffiti or wall to wall advertisements. Upon the walls, matter is crossed with written messages and echoes like a voice from “another place” that is trapped in cement. In other areas, the massive fancies of consumer society occupy the cold and impersonal facades of buildings, unexpectedly disguising them with the images of sensational models.

Still, these “other places” are not extending within the urban milieu; they are also the places that live within every man’s soul, the places that each one of us carries within him, our homelands, our experiences and memories that become apparent from glances and gestures. Even at a remote nudists’ beach, where bathers are free of the paraphernalia of their urban origin, the city continues to exist as an experience and inner sense. Art itself, as “another” way to comprehend and conceive reality, generates heterotopias. The artist can sabotage the standard image of a city that is a complex network of crossroads and traffic lights, and create from the original actual image “another place”: a city that levitates and escapes by gliding over its own reflection.

Accordingly, the work of art itself is an Heterotopy since it is uniting us with the world, it is here and it is everywhere at the same time, it contains simultaneously all places. Isn’t it true that a work of art can create a connection between us and other places, times, memories and sensations by perpetually weaving invisible networks of relations and crossroads?

Olga Karamitopoulou

Art historian

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[1] Heterotopia: other place, from the Greek words

hetero= other and topos=place.

Foucault's idea of an heteropia is a single space

that contains all other spaces.

Balkan focalizations

Balkan focalizations

Three Serbian and two Greek photographer exhibit together

On Monday, August 27, Helios Cultural Centre in Neapoli, Thessaloniki opens the group photography exhibition "Balkan Focalizations", in collaboration with the Engraving Centre of Neapoli, the Photography School of the University of Belgrade and the Photography Center of Thessaloniki. The artists participating in the exhibition are Branimir Karanovic, Tijana Rancic, Branislav Stankovic from Serbia and Vassilis Karkatselis and Thanassis Raptis from Greece, all artists with a significant work undertheir belts and a strong presence in their hom eland and abroad. The exhibition consists of black & white and coloured photos, digital or not and invite us to follow the focalizations the eyes of the artists make, as well as their problematic. The exhibition lasts till Saturday, September 15. The exhibition takes place in the context of the series of events organized every year by the Municipality of Neapoli under the title "Balkan Square".