PHOTO:Stratos Kalafatis

Stratos Kalafatis is using the square format, a difficult format because there is no dominant axis, but in his hands gives an excellent dynamism, escaping from the stereotypical images that someone is expecting. His images balance between contemporary photography and painting, both in his landscapes and the portraits of people that emerge from the photos and reveal their personality.

By Dimitris Lempesis
Photo: Bernier/Eliades Gallery Archive

In his new solo exhibition “The pig and other stories”, the artist presents photographs created during the last years and which he describes as “intermediate” images. According to Kalafatis: “… These photographs do not illustrate nor recount. They are parts of short stories, with seemingly different destinations having disposed of the myth and plot. What is left in a story where the narrative is removed? The tree, the bird, the crossroads, lupus, girl, lad, love, hope, the curse. Dots that lead from the previous to the next, a game «dot to dot» you hope to reveal its secrets”. Stratos Kalafatis pictures are narrative. The artist takes daily pictures in the form of calendar, capturing the changing image of a landscape, the coastline, the people and generally every detail of life. Except from the use of a medium square format, he uses color saturation, using flash light even in the daylight. The photographic narrative is as important as the content of the images. It operates as a story teller. This process has been repeated in previous photo projects, at different destinations like: “Archetypal Images”, “Diary 1998-2002″, “Saga,” “the Archipelago” and “Athos – The colors of faith”.

Info: Bernier/Eliades Gallery, 11 Eptachalkou Street, Athens, Duration: 2/5-12/7/16, Days & Hours: Tue-Fri 10:30-18:30, Sat 12:00-16:00, www.bernier-eliades.gr