THIS IS ATHENS

athens and its people have been battered by the fall out of the greek financial crisis since 2009. one of the few things they turn to in pride is a strong patriotism that keeps society from disintegrating. finding one’s identity in the clash with the contemporary is not always easy- and becomes more so evident in a city like athens. the sprawling concrete of this post modern metropolis stands in stark contrast to the national myths that can be understood as an artificial 19th century construct, made up of rural folkloristic traditions and elements of ancient greek civilisation. but the athens of today is another one. it's chaotic. uncontrollable. it's considered ugly, but there lies its beauty. in this shifting surrounding, how do young athenians understand themselves? this is the starting position for my series of staged portraits of the people of athens. the sittings juxtapose the characters with their post modern environment and fragments of their heritage and thus investigates their present position. how do they relate to their heritage and context.