The Writings On The Wall

The city walls speak the truth of its citizens, an old saying says. Since ancient times, one could read the pulse of a people by their markings on the wall. The scars, markings and tattoos on the cement skin of the city communicate the experiences of a nation in transition.

Athens is the capital of Europe with the largest amount of graffiti. The abandonment of the city's center and its subsequent degradation has brought graffiti back into the spotlight as one of the main factors that contribute to decreasing life quality in the center. A long and old debate about the role of graffiti in the city is brought to the forefront: is it art or pollution?

Some of Greece's graffiti pioneers, like TARE, Woozy, Senor, Scar, Ners and the O.F.K crew, try to give their own perspective on how these markings on the wall are more than just that!

Maria

Life in a wheelchair might be utterly hopeless for some people; not for Maria.

Maria Liaskou is 23 years old, born with cerebral palsy; her days are a constant battle to get around in a wheelchair. In a city which does not cater to the needs of people with disabilities, Maria has managed to get more than around. Her charismatic personality has given her the strength to overlook the discrimination and to excel not only academically as a law student, but also as a passionate competitive swimmer who has represented Greece in major athletic events.

Maria is just one example among many; the number of people with mobility impairments has been rising in Greece over the last few years. A great part of it consists of cases caused by some kind of automotive accident. Faced with the lack of infrastructure and institutional support, Maria's struggle represents the struggle of many in a similar situation.

Maria's message is a clear and positive one: people with disabilities not only deserve a life like everyone else; they can claim it too.

Total Concession

Giona is located in the prefecture of Fokida. With an altitude of 2,150 meters, it is the highest mountain in Central Greece and one of the highest ones in the country.

Giona is home to one of the richest and most unique ecosystems in Southern Europe: a great part of its flora and fauna has yet to be extensively studied. Some of the species belonging to its ecosystem are already considered rare and are on the verge of extinction. The ecosystem has been considered a protected area of natural beauty and belongs to the NATURA 2000 network.

Giona's subsoil contains large bauxite deposits, which have been unearthed during the past seventy years through mines constructed at the foot of the mountain, greatly affecting the mountain's environment as well as the everyday life of its locals. Big companies with a "total concession" get to exploit the area, under the pretext of supporting the local labor market. On the other hand are the initiatives of the concerned locals who struggle for the mountain's salvation. An uneven fight, not only for survival, but also for life itself.

Roads Rage and Relics

The newly constructed national highway is Greece's main artery connecting the north to the south, it is the lifeblood to countless towns, villages and cities. Sprinkled quaintly on side of the national road are miniature churches, whose cuteness overshadows an often darker story. These relics and offerings by relatives of car-crash victims, are a constant reminder of how dangerous Greek driving and roads really are.

The poor signage on the roads accompanied by poor maintenance and reckless machismo driving leads thousands of people to an early grave every year, while infrastructure for the treatment of victims of road accidents is minimal and insufficient. Unfortunately the number of accidents has been rising steadily as the number of young people are on the road increases.

The roads' poor condition, high number of casualties and expensive tolls have given rise to the "I refuse to pay!" movement, where citizens block tollbooths and encourage other motorists and commuters to avoid paying the highway tolls. Their argument is that the greek citizens have already been taxed for them, turning the country's highways into red zones, and civil rights combat fields.

Destroy Athens - Dreams of a city

Athens, a capital of almost 5 million people, is the locus where half of the population of Greece is concentrated. A city with an important past, with monuments and layers of history next to modern versions of a European lifestyle, Athens is currently undergoing major transformations.

A melting pot of people and influences, the city center in particular is witnessing rapid changes in its population, which is growing and becoming more diverse. The big influx of immigrants who have been settling in different areas in the past few years, has had a great impact on the city's character, creating many multi-cultural communities. The old Athens exists in the minds of the people that still remember it, however, a new generation of Athenians, born and raised in the city, are moving to a higher level of consciousness, creating groups of activism in the urban space and taking initiatives regarding life in the city and envisioning ways to improve the city's aesthetics along with its overall quality of life.

Athenians settle their disputes by recommending news ways to rebuilt the city and regain its lost pride. Different forces and agents come into action, in an urban environment that experiences social unrest and strong cultural and political upheaval. Will Athens surrender to the chaos until it self-destructs or will it find its path towards a more beautiful and harmonious existence? And what can rise from the debris when the old is destroyed?