Newsmaker: Visual artist and Photographer Nikos Mourkogiannis
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
1. Your photo exhibition “Arkadia, The Untold Tale”, which recently opened to the DC Metro public is entirely focusing on the Arkadia region of Greece. How did this “storyboard” come to life? Why Arkadia?
– Arkadia is an amazing region of the Peloponnese in Greece and I’ve been quite infatuated by it since I was a kid. A few years ago, a good friend of mine bought a little country house there, a house he spent time and money to refurbish meticulously, and he invited me over. Well, I was captivated forever. Endless rows of olive trees and proudly emerging cypresses growing all the way from the mountains to the coast kept mesmerizing my sight. There was green everywhere, in all its shades, blending with the deep blue of the sea. Peace and beauty as I had never experienced before. I started thinking, there and then, I had to homage this land with my work, it was the least I could do. I decided to make my photo exhibit entirely dedicated to one single subject under the title “Arkadia, the Untold Tale”.
2. As the saying goes, each picture tells a thousand words, but lets suppose that they only say a few! Could you give the context of this “storyboard” in a couple of sentences?
– As the caption of my photo exhibit suggests, listening is a great virtue when you set foot in this beautiful region. Somehow, silence tells all the stories of the glorious Arkadian past which are deeply buried in the centuries. The trees, the rocks, the sea, the wind, everything has a story to tell as long as you’re willing to hear. I took long walks and, miraculously, things around me came alive. I started taking pictures of what seemed to be telling me a story, a tale yet untold. There was magic and I was ready to believe in it.
3. As someone who has worked extensively and been recognized for his work with visual arts, do you find photography to be the most powerful means? (if not, which is?)
– Photography is and will always be a powerful means in visual arts. Nowadays, when we talk about photography there are so many techniques involved. Technology has given a real boost to creativity. However, I’m a rather nostalgic artist. I prefer to find the perfect point of view to set my camera rather than make my photo look smarter in post-production. But, of course, I won’t hesitate to use any means if I feel it helps my shot look more powerful.
4. You have been living and working in Italy for the most part of your adult life. If you had to choose, of the projects you have worked on, which would be your favorite?
-Italy is well known for its indisputable resourcefulness in everything that has to do with Arts and Design. It’s very stimulating to work in a country where so many things happen. I, sometimes, have to compete with other photo advertisers for a project or another. I still remember that very time I won a prize for a poster I produced regarding the desaparecidos in Argentina, a subject I felt very deeply. I was, really, very proud.
About the artist
Nikos Mourkogiannis was born in Athens, Greece, and since 1997 has been living in Torino, Italy, where he graduated from the prestigious European Institute of Design (IED) in Visual Communication. He has worked as a freelance creative advertiser for some of the most famous brands in Italy. He has also collaborated with various commercial directors on the making of videos and short movies. His passion for photography has grown along with his interest in visual experimentation, and he has contributed his works to many charity auctions. His last photography exhibit has been hosted by the Greek embassy in Washington and it will be running untill Novembre 15, 2015