The artist Prince Nikolaos attempted to highlight, through his lens, the parallels between the desert and the sea, elements that are so different and yet so similar. Upon his return to Greece, he began traveling and taking photographs of the Aegean Sea that related to his memories of Qatar. These images, on the one hand, accentuate the beauty and uniqueness of the desert and the sea, while on the other, underline the contrast of these elements. These photographs engage the viewer in a mental journey through a visual interplay of scenery and perception, creating an unexpected dialogue. This is how the idea for the exhibition ‘Aegean Desert’ was born, which constitutes the first institutional cultural initiative between Greece and Qatar.
The artist leads the visitor to transcend the geographical boundaries of a photography exhibition. He creates two art installations in Athens and in Doha, presenting images of the Aegean Sea and the Qatari desert side by side. The works were displayed in specially designed spaces based on the aesthetics of each country. In Athens, the photographs were exhibited in a Bedouin winter tent (bait al shaar) designed especially for this event at the courtyard of the Benaki Museum of Islamic Art. The floor was covered with carpets and contains a traditional Arab seating, or majlis. Additionally in Doha, the photographs were shown in a traditional windmill of the Aegean Sea, which was erected in the Katara Cultural Village in November 2019.
The exhibitions were enriched with music by the great composers Evanthia Reboutsika and Dana Alfardan, highlighting the dialogue of cultures through art. In a world where images prevail, the artist seeks to establish an interactive relationship with the viewers and challenges them to see, hear, feel, and thus participate in the creative activity.
Both exhibitions are curated by Marilena Koutsoukou.
Aegean Desert Photo Gallery
