“Everything here speaks now as it did centuries ago, of illumination.
Here the light penetrates directly to the soul, opens the door and windows of the heart, makes one naked,
exposed, isolated in a metaphysical bliss which makes everything so clear without being known”

~Henry Miller, The Colossus of Maroussi

This exhibition celebrated two decades of photographing and leading tours to Greece and the Greek Islands by professional award- winning photographer, Nick Melidonis.

Nick takes us on a remarkable visual journey to explore and celebrate the people, landscapes and spirit of Greece and its distinctive Islands, strewn like jewels amidst the intense blue and aquamarine of its seas. This is probably the single biggest collection of professionally produced images of Greece currently in Australia and it is also a visual snapshot of the changing face of Greece in the last two decades.

Asked why he spent over two decades re-visiting Greece from far-away Australia, Nick quotes the celebrated author, Henry Miller who said, “To know Greece well, would take a lifetime but to fall in love with it takes only an instant.”

 “My love affair with Greece started in the seventies. I was born in Alexandria, Egypt, of Greek Parents and migrated to Australia at the age of six. My father came from the island of Lesbos and he often talked about the way of life on the islands where he grew up in Mitilene. It was in the late seventies as a student that I finally found the time to explore Greece and the Greek islands and it has been a love affair ever since. Each visit produced new images, new stories and new friends. I took great pleasure in sharing my love of Greece with the many travellers that joined my tours and many of these participants have now become life-long friends. Greece has also been changing, but the generosity and warmth of its people has remained.

One can still find solitude away from the busy temples, monuments and central ferry routes. An exploration of the mountain villages and tiny ports will reveal a lifestyle that has endured for many generations. Half opened doorways lead into cosy flowered courtyards as cats dart through the narrow, twisting alleyways. Above all I am lured by the friendly smiles of people who offer you all they have, although many have very little.

This collection of images is a celebration of the way of life such as my father knew. Fortunately, if we take the time to explore, we can find it still. The Greece which emerges from the images in this exhibition is one we may all come to know, a celebration of the light, the smile and the heart of a people who have been inspiring me for over two decades.”

The Greek Government has endorsed this exhibition as an official event in the world-wide celebrations of the 200th anniversary of the Greek Revolution and it carries the official logo under the auspices of the Greek 2021 committee in Athens.

For inquiries on the exhibition and its associated artists talks and events please contact Nick on 0418 912156 or email: [email protected] 

SALE OF PHOTOGRAPHIC ARTWORKS AND VIEWING GALLERY

For information on how to purchase an image, click here.

To see the gallery of the full 60 photographic art works in the exhibition, please click here. 

Double click on any slide then use arrows top right of the page to scroll through collection.

Nick Melidonis is one of Australia’s foremost photographers and photo educators for over two decades. A Master Photographer with five gold bars; he was named number two in the world in 2016 in ‘Nature’ (landscape and wildlife) in the prestigious World Photographic Cup winning a silver medal. He was also a finalist in the National Geographic 2016 ‘Travel Photographer of the Year’. Nick is one of only three photographers to have won the ‘AIPP Australian Professional Landscape Photographer of the Year’ three times.

2. Priest from Hozoviotissa Monastery, Amorgos The majestic Parthenon, shot in late 70's 8. Church of Agia Haralmbos, Milos Village Textures, Paros Isand