Hḗrōs is a portrait project by Matjaž Tančič focused on the refugee crisis in the Mediterranean. It will be carried out for 3 weeks during the ArtsUp residency at the Arts Space Pythagorion, on the Greek island of Samos – one of the main European gateways for Syrian, Middle Eastern and African refugees and migrants.
Hḗrōs is is inspired by ancient Greek reliefs depicting mythological heroes. A hero, in the original meaning of the term, is a person or character who, in the face of danger, combats adversity through impressive feats of ingenuity, bravery or strength. In short, there is no better term to describe those who have uprooted their lives, survived war zones, and braved a journey that would put Odysseus to shame, all in order to find a better place for themselves and their families. Drawing from the tradition of Ancient Greek storytelling, Hḗrōs will collect stories from the refugees, their homeland and their journey.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), 1,000,573 refugees and migrants arrived in Europe from the Middle East and North Africa during 2015. Of these, some 850,000 landed on the Greek islands. Of these, 49 per cent were Syrian, 21 per cent Afghan and 8 per cent Iraqi. Since the start of 2016, a further 131,724 people have made the leap from Turkey to Europe, with the majority – 122,637 – entering the EU via Greece. At the moment there are at least 60.000 of them waiting stranded on different locations around Greece.
The biggest stream of migrant come to the east Greek islands of Lesvos, Samos, Chios, Leros that are the closest to the Turkey. No matter the distance, it was estimated that about 22,000 migrants died while trying to reach Europe since 2000, making this part of the Mediterranean one of the most perilous sea routes in the world. One statistic after another is showing the scale of this human catastrophe. Yet, the media coverage of the refugees is mostly related to photos of overcrowded boats, people flocking trough the fields, and similar images. This is making refugees become just a number, while we are slowly becoming apathetic and immune to such numbers and images.
The media have little room to provide a dignified and humanized depiction of refugees, who are not often shown as human beings with hopes and plans to go back to normal life. It is time to do so. It is time to restore the human faces of the refugees. It is time tell their stories.
Project phases
After the arrival to Samos (Greece), the artist will carry out a series of interviews with different people based in the island. He will interview the refugees as well as the humanitarian workers to hear stories about the heroes they have encountered back home, during their journey and in the island itself.
The Hḗrōs project will shine light on the storytellers as well as the heroes. Hand flashlights and cell phones lights are crucial survival tools during the refugees’ journeys. These very same lights are the ones that will be used for the portraits.
The artist will ask refugees, humanitarian workers and locals of all ages to contribute to the photo shooting. First, he will explain simple principles of photography and lighting. Successively, the participants will create portraits by lighting with their phones and torches. The sitters and light assistance will change so everyone can experience being on both sides of the camera, as well as produce new memories to share with their families.
The photographs will be printed onto life jackets. There is plenty of life jackets left behind in the island. By re-cycling them as a canvas for the photographs, these life jackets are given a new life and usage. To conclude, the artist will make a photographic exhibit in Samos, once more as a community art event.
Photographs produced during the residency are going to be sold as limited edition photographic prints and as a photo book. 65% of the proceeds goes to selected organizations addressing the refugee crisis such as UNICEF, World Food Program and UNHCR.
The artist
Matjaž Tančič (1982) is a Slovenian photographer who lives and creates between Beijing and Ljubljana. He began his path as a photojournalist for Mladina magazine, but quickly made his way abroad – Matjaž is a graduate of the London College of Fashion. His photojournalistic roots can be sensed in his fashion work as well – the endless pursuit of fresh locations and that moment of spontaneity that is the trademark of journalistic photography. Matjaž has 60 group and 24 solo exhibitions behind him, with his work being featured in magazines such as Vogue, Marrie Claire, L Officiel, Playboy, Mercedes Benz Magazine, Modna, Inspire and Look de Book. His awards include the Sony World Photography Organisation 2013 in 3D category, the Slovenia Press Photo award 2012 in Nature category. He was among top 6 selected photographers for the 2009 “Google Photography Prize”.
More info can be found here.