Fred Boissonnas Itinerary to Mount Athos, 1928-1930 Hellenic Foundation for Culture, Berlin Branch 17 January - 28 March     The Swiss Frédéric Boissonas (1858-1944) left his mark on photographic art in 20th century Greece. Son of one of the first photographers of Switzerland, he was recognised in european level after the International Report of Paris in 1900, where he was awarded with the golden medal for the photo of the “Snowy top of  the White Mountain”. He visited Greece in 1903, where he became successful very fast. During the 10’s, the Greek government charged him with the creation of an album entitled “The image of Greece”, in which he impressed martial fights and the daily life in Greece, as well as in the claimed regions (Epirus, Macedonia, Crete, Dodekanisos, Cyprus and Asia Minor).   Boissonnas, aiming at creating and promoting the positive images of Greece and having won complete recognition by successive Greek governments, travelled in 1928 and 1930 to Mount Athos. The 400 photos that are found in his archive are related to the monastic architecture, either as general views of the interior yards or as close and detailed shots. Boissonnas highlighted the architectural and natural features of Mount Athos, creating a type of tableau vivant of daily activities. He preferred giving in his work the metaphoric meaning of arriving to the historic and mythological land of Greece, rather than representing any religious ceremony or service. Nevertheless, the general impression is that Boissonnas does not seem to approach the metaphysical aura of Mouth Athos, but stands closer to the spirit of depicting the wider greek state, with photographs that combine documentation and artfulness.   The exhibition was organised in collaboration with the Thessaloniki Museum of Photography, the Organisation for the Promotion of Greek Culture and the Agioritiki Estia. More back >>