On the evening of Wednesday, November 6, a crowd of over 200 gathered at the Greek Centre in Melbourne to celebrate the launch of Professor Nikos Papastergiadis’ latest book, John Berger and Me: A Migrant’s Eye.
Acclaimed author Christos Tsiolkas described the book as a meditation on love in all its forms: the love between a parent and child, a student and mentor, and, most profoundly, the love between friends.
He praised John Berger and Me as “a glorious homage” to friendship and intellectual companionship, noting its accessible, heartfelt tone as a departure from Papastergiadis’ usual academic style. Tsiolkas highlighted the warmth and depth of the author’s bond with Berger and paid tribute to Papastergiadis’ portrayal of his own father, John, drawing parallels between his father’s influence and Berger’s role in shaping his journey as a writer and academic.
In conversation, Papastergiadis and Tsiolkas shared stories of the challenges young migrants from working-class backgrounds face when entering the arts. Papastergiadis reflected on his mother’s ambivalence about his pursuit of art, expressing how her love for education was tempered by a belief that the arts were “for the rich.” Both speakers emphasised the importance of celebrating “peasant heritage” and broadening the reach of the arts.
The evening concluded with remarks from Professor Scott McQuire, a lifelong friend of Papastergiadis, who recalled visiting Berger in the French Alps with him. McQuire noted that John Berger and Me allowed Papastergiadis’ natural storytelling to shine, capturing the process of memory and honouring the “two Johns” who profoundly shaped his life—his father and John Berger. He described the book as a celebration of the lives and memories that continue to inspire the author.
