Nick Vavdinoudis’s four portraits that won the second place in the international competition “Travel Photographer of the Year”, among thousands of entries from around the world
An acclaimed Greek photographer makes famous an ancient Greek tradition of Macedonia.
They couldn’t believe that they were going to become famous. Northern Greece’s locals stood in front of the Nick Vavdinoudis’s lens and the result was seen by millions of people around the globe. Greek photographer Nick Vavdinoudis won second place in the international competition “Travel Photographer of the Year”, among thousands of entries from around the world. His photographs will be exhibited in the prestigious Royal Geographical Society’s gallery in London from July to September this year. Nick’s photographs were posted on the popular social media giant ‘yatzer’ and they become viral!
Through his “Faces + Masks” series, Vavdinoudis captures the unusual yet ancient customs of certain towns and villages in the rural area of Eastern Macedonia. Known for their elaborate animalistic costumes and symbolic rituals, these customs take place at the beginning of January (around the 6th to be exact) and coincide with the Orthodox Christian holiday of the baptism of Christ. They are believed to date back to before Christianity, veritably to ancient Dionysian celebrations of fertility due to their apparent chthonic and shamanistic nature.
According to Vavdinoudis, the locals see no contradiction between the pagan character of their customs and their Christian context, since these rituals are meant to be ”a praise to a fertile and good year”, a gesture which in turn ”rests on the pillars of fruitfulness and productivity.”
Vavdinoudis told Neos Kosmos the story behind the photos that took place in villages located near the cities of Drama and Kavala, in Greece’s Macedonia.
-How did you decide to take this photographic journey?
“I attended as a visitor to the local custom and I was impressed by the primordial sense of the custom. I wanted to photograph the people and not the event. This ritual has many different names such as ‘Momogeri’, ‘Niggers’, ‘Babougera’, depending on the village that hosts it, and has roots in antiquity and in Dionysian festivals.”
– How were you treated by the locals?
“The difficulty was to convince them to participate. Once that was achieved, the rest was easier. They started to call people from nearby villages and for two years weekends were filled with the deafening noise of bells that were worn on the locals’ waists. They stood in front of the camera naturally and I didn’t have to make any corrections. The shootings took place at the villages Monastiraki, Xiropotamos, Petrousa, Pagoneri, Volakas of Drama Distinct and the village Nikisiani of Kavala District.”
-Do you believe that Greek tradition is slowly dying?
“Greek traditions are inexhaustible. The popular culture is the mirror of a people’s nation and it must be reconnected to the tradition, in particularly when young people are participating. The cultural associations are strong pillars of the Greek tradition, because they hold and raise our folk culture. They actually transform them from a static museum piece into a living organism.”
-Traditions are part of the identity of Diaspora’s Hellenism. And in Australia there are many cultural associations and communities that are trying hard to keep up with the tradition customs. Have you ever thought about or tried to bring your work in our country?
“Honestly, I have thought to present my work to Greek Australians. But the costly transfer of the exhibitions to a destination such as Australia is a concern. This, combined with the current economic situation in Greece, makes it difficult to cover the costs. My photographs will be exhibited at the famous Royal Geographical Society of London from July to September.”
source:Neos Kosmos
STUDIO 3 NEWCASTLE AUSTRALIA 