Moments in the lives of the glamorous
A snapshot of a highly publicized affair, Aristotle Onassis getting married to Jackie Kennedy on the magnate’s island of Skorpios in 1968 is set against a photograph of a rather sad, pensive Maria Callas posing in the early 1970s. Moments in the lives of the glamorous people is one aspect of «VIPs 1961-1997: Through the Lens of Aristoteles Sarrikostas,» a photographic exhibition currently on display at the Hellenic American Union’s Kennedy and Hadzikyriakos-Ghika galleries. Curated by Michalis Katsigeras and including over 100 black-and-white photos, «VIPs» covers four decades of Greek life, focusing on leading personalities who lived in or visited the country during exciting times, particularly the 1960s and 1970s. Parading on the walls are images of legendary figures enjoying the celebrated Greek hospitality, far away from today’s film and music industries where authoritative publicists trace celebrities’ every move: Kirk Douglas, Marlon Brando, Frank Sinatra and Brigitte Bardot, to name but a few on the international level, with Giorgos Seferis, Odysseas Elytis, Karolos Koun, Alexis Minotis, Melina Mercouri, Tzeni Karezi and Costas Kazakos, among others, covering the local scene. «Back then we had more stars visiting Greece; think of the Beatles, the Stones, they were all at their peak at the time,» said Sarrikostas to Kathimerini English Edition. «The 1960s and the 1970s were far more glamorous, and even though Greece was going through rough times, people were having more fun.» Principally known as a war photojournalist and devoted to black-and-white photography since 1961, Sarrikostas began his career at Enossi, a leading photograph and news agency, followed by a long stint at The Associated Press. «The ID of the photojournalist says a lot,» said Sarrikostas. «It all depends on the one carrying the camera; photoreportage is the mother of photography. You get to cover all the phases and stages, from wars to weddings – things you can’t do in a studio.» While the exhibition showcases a more peaceful side, a recently published panorama of Sarrikostas’s work portrays often harsh realities. Featuring over 150 images, «Memories of a Greek Photojournalist» (Potamos Editions) covers the spectrum of 20th century history including the Six-Day War, the fall of the Shah of Iran, the Iran-Iraq war and the entry of the military at the Polytechnic University in Athens in November 1974, as well as landmark moments such as American astronauts meeting Russian cosmonauts in Athens in 1965, during a conference. What did Sarrikostas gain from photojournalism? «Amazing experiences, unforgettable moments, all those things that you can’t learn at school; Great joys, great journeys and not a lot of money,» said Sarrikostas. «There is great satisfaction in what I did and my compensation is that people are recognizing my work. I was there then, in the moment, the one behind the image.» Retired yet still active, Sarrikostas continues to collaborate with selected publications around the world. While in the past he used to carry six to seven boxes each time he traveled on assignment, he now has the luxury of choosing between the past and novel technology, though he appears adamant about where his passion lies. «I was there when the new technology arrived, but I don’t really enjoy it, I choose manual any time,» said the photojournalist, who doesn’t own a digital camera. «In the old days, it used to take 22 minutes to send a black-and-white photo, today it takes three minutes to dispatch a colored one. Yet the magic of developing the film, the sensation of the black-and-white remain absolutely mesmerizing.» «VIPs 1961-1997: Through the Lens of Aristoteles Sarrikostas» is currently on display at the Hellenic American Union, 22 Massalias, Kolonaki. Opening hours: Monday to Friday from noon to 9 p.m., Saturday from 10.30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Closed on Sunday. The exhibitions runs to April 14.
