Marina Vernicos : Greek Topio-graphies
Award winning photographer Marina Vernicos has showcased a number of solo and group exhibitions in distinguished galleries and museums around the world. In your recent exhibition Up Above & Down Under in Cyprus, we can see a collection of pictures depicting greek ‘topio-graphy’ from alternative perspectives.
Featured photo: Elafonisos, Peloponnese © Marina Vernicos photography
| interview by The Greek Designers |
From your travel experiences, analyse to us greek topiography & landscape.
The combination of the natural elements, colors and light in greek topiography is unique. Nowhere in the world can you find such raw beauty. We are very lucky and privileged to be born in Greece and call ourselves Greeks.
In most photos you emphasize the absolute boundary between sea and land. The boundary is a linear connection between two worlds that come together: Sea and Land. Why did you choose this subject?
I chose this subject because since I was a child I have been mentally and physically split between these two worlds. I belong to both and I find their boundary extremely compelling to study.
We noticed that you choose two different displays on your photos: Aerial view shows large scale, while front view focuses on the detail of the moment. Capture your emotions.
Artists evolve with time and experiences. Aerial photography is something new and exciting for me. It’s a different point of view in order to capture beauty in a larger scale which up until recently I could only observe close up.
In some of the photos it is depicted natural landscape in coexistence with built environment. Natural landscape is mild, with natural colors and shades, while built environment is a compact structure with tensions, building clusters and movements. How do you handle these two opposite environments in photography?
With respect and caution. One needs to find the correct balance in order to bring out the calm feeling I look for in all my pictures.
Blue in all shades dominates all your photos. The blue sea and sky. Clearly, a sign of greek place; Greece. What does greek ‘topos’ mean to you?
Greek ‘topos’ means predominantly islands for me. My place origin is from the Greek island of Sifnos. An island in the Cyclades where blue and white are the prevailing colors.
Greece is a place of inspiration, influence and emotions. What are your greek influences?
My upbringing, my travels and my family’s business which is about yachting in Greece > www.vernicos.com. I’ve spent half my life sailing our waters.
Your philanthropic spirit and your creativity have led you to found the non-profit organization CREAID. Derived from the combination of the words CREate and AID, the concept is to help the weak social groups through creativity and various artistic projects.
How do you think design and creativity could help those in need nowadays?
Creativity and design are valuable commodities that should be monetized for the benefit of the children. It is a constructive way to raise money as the creations last forever.
Describe to us from your perspective what the Hellenic style/aesthetics consists of?
Hellenic style/ aesthetics have a sense of simplicity and intellectuality, without being extreme or hard to comprehend. They are evolutionary but not provocative or ground breaking.
Your passion for your creative occupation, photography, combined with your humanitarian characteristics resulted in the creation of the Lucky Bag. Bags that depict some of your favorite summer photos and that revenues from the sales are donated to underprivileged children in Greece.
The bags carry characteristics from the greek culture, such us the evil eye as a decorative detail on the zipper, analyse to us the concept behind the bags? How did the name came from?
It’s not just the lucky bags. It’s a collection of silk scarfs, tote bags, pouches, cases and lucky bags all under my name, Marina Vernicos. The concept was to make my photography wearable while helping raise funds for my non profit organization CREAID.
Similar to the concept of the ancient greek god Hermes that carried his bag and was the messenger, what is the exact message that you want to transmit worldwide through your creations?
That nothing makes us happier than making other people happy.
Marina Vernicos was born in Athens, Greece. She studied Communications and Photography at Emerson College of Boston and Business Administration at Harvard Extension School.
Since 2001, she has showcased a number of solo and group exhibitions in distinguished galleries and museums around the world, such as the museum of Cycladic Art in Greece, Museum of Louvre and Eiffel Tower in Paris, HangaramArt Museum in Korea, London, Monaco and NY. She has been awarded the prizes ‘Sandro Botticelli’ at the Palazzo Giucciardi Bongianni, Florence and in France ‘La Grand Exposition Universelle’ at the Eiffel Tower. Her work can also be seen in distinguished hotels such as the Amanzoe and Nikki Beach in Greece.
Marina Vernicos has published four books: 235 (2011), Antarctica (2004), My Acropolis (2012), Through the lens of time (2004).
All photos are courtesy of Marina Vernicos.
Creative team of TGD: Filiana Stefanakaki, Architect Msc
Dimitra Stefanakaki, Landscape Architect MLA
Anna Baniora, Fashion Management MA
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