Color Me Beautiful is the latest collaboration between Maria Boucaouris, Leonidas Germanopoulos and COLOUR GREECE. Its a photographic journey that captures their three-year exploration of the island of Andros.
In summary, it is a portrait of the ailing Greek countryside, with a touch of humor as an antidote to reality.
The idea originated from discussions about the visual landscape of contemporary rural Greece. The artists selected an island due to its inherent geographical and cultural boundaries. Its unique landscape posed both a challenge and an inspiration for capturing these images. Nevertheless, these photographs could be placed anywhere, anytime.
Their visual narrative unveils a «weakened» place, a place in decay, yet still inhabited. It presents a scene dominated by concrete, isolation. They explored both public and private spaces on the island, the urban fabric, and the rural landscape, revealing a story of gradual aesthetic decline in the human-shaped environment.
The project aims to raise awareness on issues related to the preservation of Cycladic heritage. The process brought to light scenes of daily life that could have originated from any place impacted by sudden and unregulated development.