PHOTO:Lia Nalbantidou, Urban Secret Garden-A Reading
The photographic series “Urban Secret Garden – a reading” is an exhibit of the history of Thessaloniki and began as an improvisation in 2009, during purposeless morning walks around the city. The series consists of contemporary photographs (2010-14) depicting the urban landscape of Thessaloniki, but also older ones from the photographer’s family archive (1950-2008): old and new images, articulated upon the steps of long walks taken place from winter to summer and from late at night until dawn. The modern-day photos capture the historic center of the city and the Upper Town/Ano Poli, the harbour, Ladadika neighbourhood, and the coastal route on an eastward direction towards Kodra military camp and Karaburnaki area up to Florida Shopping Mall and Macedonia Airport.Family snapshots date from 1950 to 1990. The father, mother and grandmother of the artist are depicted in the garden, in front of the window of the Upper Town house, on the terrace or in the sampling hall of the prêt-à-porter small industry run by the family.-Lia Nalbantidou and Sila Zamani. Εnglish translation: Thalia Bisticas
Photographs of the exhibition are also included in Nalbantidou’s photobook “Urban Secret Garden: a trilogy” book of photographs. Flipping through the book for the first time, readers encounter the contemporary photographs, yet with a second reading, they are asked to cut open the hidden pages, in order to discover the old family photographs.
CV: Lia Nalbantidou was born in Thessaloniki. She studied Photography (BFA, 1991) at Columbus College of Art & Design (Columbus – Ohio) in USA and Humanities (Body Academy) at International Women’s University – EXPO 2000 in Germany. Her work (photos and artists’ books) is represented in private collections, museum collections and libraries: National Museum of Contemporary Art (EMST) & Benaki Museum – Athens, Thessaloniki Museum of Photography, Architekturbild EV – Stuttgart, Gulbenkian Art Library – Lisbon, Photoireland Foundation Collection – Dublin, Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library – Yale University & Weserburg Research Centre for Artists’ Books – Bremen.
Info: The photos are exhibited in Ileana Tounta Contemporary Art Center from 18/2/20, which is currently closed in accordance with the instructions issued by the competent authorities regarding the Coronavirus health crisis. The exhibition of Lia Nalbantidou will continue upon the reopening of the gallery until May 09th. For any further information you may contact at ileanatounta@art-tounta.gr.
