Liparo & Bombs

The work of Greek photographer Petros Efstathiadis — one of ten selected photographers showcased at the 18th International Festival of Fashion & Photography Hyères— is based on the creation of sculptures and sets using an array of primitive, raw materials he finds in the village where he grew up in Greece.   In the Liparo & Bombs series, Efstathiadis explores the modern paranoia that exists within society. There is an underlying frustration experienced by young people in relation to the expectations and misplaced values of roles in society. Efstathiadis explains that there was a time when the riots in Greece were seen as a show put on for the media. Petrol bombs everywhere, Athens was on fire. But the bombs that he creates are like children’s toys, they reflect war and fear, yet are completely harmless — a powerful and peaceful response to the absurd nature of modern day society which is in a state of general confusion.

His The performance series is a playful representation of strange personalities, their unique experiences, dreams, ambitions, hopes and failures. Once documented and photographed, the sculptures are dismantled and returned to their normal everyday state. The only thing remaining is the photograph, a document of the distorted memory that idealises a country seeking an identity between East and West.
  A graduate from the UK’s Farnham University of Creative Arts, Efstathiadis lives in Greece. Recently, his work was shown as part of the collective exhibition “Realities and Plausibilities” at Athens’ Xippas gallery (2009) and “Where the wild one are”, at Barcelona’s Ego Gallery (2011).