Questioning the Notion of Shame in Contemporary Greece

Reflecting upon the mythological meaning of the Greek word, Aidos, Ioanna Sakellaraki explores the mood and feelings among her generation in contemporary Greece, where certain classic and rigid values are still held true.

Reflecting upon the mythological meaning of the Greek word, Aidos, Ioanna Sakellaraki explores the mood and feelings among her generation in contemporary Greece, where certain classic and rigid values are still held true.

I grew up in a country where shaming is a lifelong tradition for positioning someone in society. What makes us escape our own country and how do we live based on values we once learnt and always questioned? How do we struggle, allow and accept? In my effort to draw the portrait of Greece in transition, I came across a constant worry steaming from comparison of the self’s state of being with the ideal social context’s standard. Keeping in mind the idea of naivety behind our choices, I hope to document the freedom of the commonplace and the individual struggle of the becoming. In Greek mythology, Aidos was the goddess of shame, modesty and humility.

Words and Pictures by Ioanna Sakellaraki

Ioanna Sakellaraki (b. 1989, Athens) is a graduate of photography, journalism and culture. She has exhibited her work at Athens Photo Festival, Kolga Tbilisi Photo Festival and Retina Scottish International Photography Festival, among others. She was recently awarded with The Royal Photographic Society Postgraduate Bursary. Find her on PHmuseum and Instagram.

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This feature is part of Story of the Week, a selection of relevant projects from our community handpicked by the PHmuseum curators.