Small Acts of Power
2022-2023
photographic serie, 14 panels
On the occasion of Eleusis European Capital of Culture.
Curated by Katerina Gregos
The work is a tribute to the Eleusinian Workers Union, which used to be one of the biggest worker’s union in Greece. The serie is the result of a participatory action carried out by the artist during his residency in Elefsina and it traces through symbols and testimonies the personal experiences of 14 workers from different sectors of the territory united by the universal tool of gloves. The new photographic series Small Acts of Power focuses on the working-class history of Elefsina and the diverse labour force and human potential that makes up the city. During his research, the artist met workers in Elefsina’s industries and captured their stories photographically in their work environments. During these meetings with workers of different generations, both retired and active, the artist asked them to choose an object that was important to them during their productive lives. The photographs are portraits of each worker, even though they per se are actually absent. Instead, the artist focuses on their hands, with or without gloves – both archetypal symbols of manual labour. The result is a powerful statement about working-class identity.
