Artist Takeover: Marinos Tsagkarakis

https://vimeo.com/196033477

StandardVision follows up Serge Najjar’s artist takeover on the SVLA1 screen at the Marriott Courtyard Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles with work by Marinos Tsagkarakis. Tsagkarakis is the latest of many artists, to be invited to take over a week-long recurring 15-second spot to showcase their work to the public.

Tsagkarakis’ work explores Greece post-economic collapse. Tsagkarakis captures a country losing it’s identity to tourism. He studied contemporary photography at STEREOSIS Photography School and is a member of the collective “Depression Era.” According to their website: “The Depression Era Project inhabits the urban and social landscapes of the crisis. It begins as a collective experiment, picturing the Greek city and its outer regions, the private lives of outcasts, the collapse of Public systems, the emergence of the Commons and snapshots of the everyday often under the radar, in order to understand the social, economical and historical transformation currently taking place in Greece.” Marinos’ work unearths the ugly and ephemeral tourist industry and it’s impact on the country’s landscape. While his photography reveals a bleak story, his work is colorful, humorous, and expertly juxtaposes ancient and modern Greek life and culture.

Marinos was born and raised on Crete, and is currently based in Thessaloniki. He studied Economic Science, Business Administration in Finance and Information Systems before beginning his education in Photography in 2002. His work provides a unique view of the city as his understanding of the current situation is not based merely on observation but an adept understanding of abstract concepts involved in an economic crisis. His photographs have been exhibited all over the Mediterranean world, as well as Europe and the Americas.

Take a look at his latest series here and at his instagram @marinos_tsagkarakis