Toppling Emblems
120 x 100 cm
ACRYLIC PAINT ON CANVAS
NARRATIVE SOURCE : Tourism, Growth & Hospitality
Greek hospitality and ‘filotimo’ is an iconic
characteristic that defines the country as a tourism destination.
Inspired by the beautiful work Freddie Carabott did in the 1960’s for
the Greek National Tourism Office. (See ‘Synthesis’, 1961)
“Filotimo” is the Greek philosophy of hospitality, I’ve heard friends
and colleagues define it as ‘generosity’, ‘the basis of ethics’ and ‘humanity.’
Over the last decade, a push for mass tourism, Airbnb
and the commercialization of “tradition”, “Cretan Diet”, “The Greek Experience” have contributed to a sort of burnout of filotimo.
QUESTIONS : Am I contributing to this?
Is Filotimo the cost of growth?
Is it worth it?
Exhibitions
A Week in Paradise 2024 (group show) Red D Gallery, Chania, Greece