‘1821 meets 2021’ in Greek revolution-themed Melbourne photoshoot

A Melburnian’s idea to honour the bicentenary of the Greek War of Independence came to life in a series of stunning pictures, where the past of a distant land blends with people who uphold its legacy Down Under.

Source: Stav Lampropoulos - Georgios Jordi Xourafas Artverse Photography

Highlights

• A photoshoot celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Greek War of Independence took place in Melbourne
• It was the brainchild of a second-generation Greek Australian
• The photographers that brought it to fruition share their views on the initiative

Nick Papaefthymiou, a dance teacher at the Greek Community of Melbourne, came up with the idea of organising a Greek Revolution photoshoot with his students.

“These images will mean different things to different people. For some on a personal level they will bring up images of 1974 Cyprus, for others of WWII and civil war. For others the images we get from the history books of the 1821 revolution,” Mr Papaefthymiou tells SBS Greek.

'Exhaustion after battle' Source: Georgios Jordi Xourafas Artverse Photography

It took a dozen or so eager members of the dance group to make it happen and two key collaborators, fine arts photographer and photojournalist Georgios Jordi Xourafas and 2^nd year photography student at RMIT University, Stav Lampropoulos.

“I wanted to create a cinematic version of our History,” Mr Xourafas explains of his take on the initiative.

For the past 15 years, the Greek Canadian has had his work featured in magazine publications including the Papas Post, Huffington Post and New Times, as well as the Photo Biennale in Venice.

Collage of photos from Greek revolution-themed photoshoot Source: Georgios Jordi Xourafas Artverse Photography

Now living in Melbourne, he states “honoured” to have collaborated on the 1821 project and gives credit to Mr Papaefthimiou for his “deep understanding of the importance of capturing moments of history and bringing the past to the present”.

Having fun was part of the process too, with participants modelling in traditional clothing and props that easily captured the attention of passers-by in the outdoors public spaces of Melbourne.

Like the lady of the photo below who happened to be walking past during one of the Greek revolution photoshoots and was invited to join, as her outfit seemed matching for the purpose.

Source: Facebook

Mr Papaefthymiou, a second generation Greek Australian, describes the coincidental encounter as “1821 meets 2021.”

The team was a mix of people with Greek heritage some born in Australia others in Greece.

The female photographer of the group, Ms Lampropoulos fits in the second cohort, having migrated to Melbourne from Greece 7 years ago.

Source: Stav Lampropoulos

But the relocation hasn’t deprived her of the passion in “keeping the Greek culture alive for myself, as well as the rest of the world”.

Ms Lampropoulos believes the celebration of the Greek revolution bicentennial is a “great opportunity” to put the event in the spotlight, “and really demonstrate the victorious and hopeful attitude the Greeks went into war with”.

Collage of photos from Greek revolution-themed photoshoot Source: Stav Lampropoulos

“I hope that this series of images inspires and reminds us who are ancestors are, what they have achieved and what they lost to get there; We need it now more than ever.”