Thirty years since its launch, Athens Photo Festival is ‘still searching’
This year’s Athens Photo Festival, spread across two floors of the Benaki Museum’s Pireos Street annex, provides insights into developments in contemporary international photography by bringing together the work of 85 photographers and other artists from 30 countries who are known for exploring photographic techniques in their work.
The show, now in its 30th year, also explores the evolution of the medium and the adoption of new techniques, as well as the growing relationship between photography and other art forms.
About 2,000 photographers submitted work following an open call for this year’s event, whose rather abstract title is “Still Searching.” After reviewing the proposals, the curators set up an exhibition that is divided into eight sections.
Among the highlights that are on display are Murray Ballard’s “Prospect of Immortality,” an investigation of cryonics – the process of freezing a human body after death in the hope that scientific advances may one day bring him or her back to life.
The 34-year-old’s project can be found in the section of the show titled “Fluid Body.”
In the same section, visitors can also see Lilly Lulay’s “Liquid Portrait” – a photographic portrait that consists of a sculpture and a moving collage both sourcing visual content from a single Facebook account.
In the section “Role Play,” Luisa Whitton showcases part of her “What About the Heart?” project. Whitton, who has been selected as one of Magnum’s Top 30 Under 30, explores the relationship between humans and machines.
Among the festival’s side events are portfolio reviews, projections, seminars, family labs and the established Athens Photo Marathon. Dates will be announced in the coming days.
The Athens Photo Festival runs through July 30 at the Benaki Museum (138 Pireos). For more information log into www.benaki.gr
