north epirus: an abandoned land
George Makkas

exhibition venue: Hereford College of Art and Design

Epirus, in the south west of the Balkan peninsula is divided between Greece and Albania. These pictures, taken in North Epirus, Southern Albania, deal with migration in the aftermath of 45 years of oppression.

After the collapse of the communist dictatorship and the war of 1997, more than two thirds of the area’s Greek-speaking population emigrated to Greece, due to economical and political instability, collapse of infrastructures and suppression of human rights.

Nowadays, villages that once had a population of around 2000 hardly have a 100. The place has become deserted.

As I originate from the Greek part of Epirus, I feel connected to the people there. In the last 12 months I have made two trips to Albania and one visit to the Greek part of Epirus to develop this work.

Biography / curriculum vitae:
Education :
1996-1999: European School of Photography, Athens,
Greece (Degree in photography);
1999-2002: BA (Hons) Documentary Photography, University of Wales College, Newport, United Kingdom

Positions held:
freelance photographer;
February 2002: Photographer of the "Eskleyside Film Project", Herefordshire;
April 2001- June 2002: Digital Scanning for the South Wales Argus, Newport;
January 2000: Documentation of the monasteries in south Albania commissioned by the Archdiocese of Albania

Exhibitions
solo:
May 2002 Fairfield School Peterchurch, Herefordshire

Exhibitions
group:
November- December 2001: Heard Gallery, Newport, United Kingdom; September- October 1998: "16 Young Greek Photographers" Periplous Gallery, Athens, Greece (Hellenic Month of photography); February- March 1998: "16 Young Greek Photographers" Milos Cultural Centre, Thessaloniki, Greece

Publications:
1998: Catalogue of the exhibition "16 Greek Young Photographers", Hellenic Centre of Photography, Athens Greece;
Autumn 1998: "Fotografia" magazine, Greece (page 50-53);
September 12, 1998: "Axia" newspaper, Athens, Greece (page 56);
July 2001: "The Ultimate Guide", Cardiff students Union, Cardiff, United Kingdom; February 12, 2002: "South Wales Argus", Newport.

Award:
Winner of The 2002 Observer Hodge Photographic Award.

For more informantion contact George Makkas at photomak@myflash.gr

For further information on George Makkas 's work visit this web site: www.observer.co.uk/gallery/0,8561,767661,00.html
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