By Kostas Mastorakis
The Evzones Collection by Greek Australian photographer Nick Bourdaniotis has gone on display at the War Museum in Athens, Greece until March 31.
The exhibition is the first time photographs of Greece’s Presidential Guard taken by a Greek from the diaspora have gone on display at the museum.
The exhibition is under the patronage of Greece’s President, Katerina Sakellaropoulou, and includes photographs of the Evzones’ visits to the Australian cities of Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide for commemoration events such as ANZAC Day and OXI Day.
The Greek Herald – loyal to its almost century-old mission of bringing the Australian community closer to its Greek center – could not miss the opening of the exhibition last week.
The opening was attended by representatives of Greece’s political, military and religious leadership, as well as the former Consul General of Greece in Sydney, Christos Karras, and former Trade Commissioner of Greece in Australia, Katia Gkikiza. Members of the Presidential Guard, including some of the photo subjects, were also in attendance.
What’s next for The Evzones Collection?
The President of the Board of the Military Museum, Anastasios Liaskos, spoke on the opening night and praised the way Bourdaniotis’ exhibition captured “the pride of the country” – the Evzones.
Next to speak was current MP, Georgios Katrougalos. He congratulated Bourdaniotis because he “managed to capture and prove that diaspora Greeks continue to showcase their heritage despite the distance between them and the motherland.”
Bourdaniotis also spoke and admitted it was “a special moment” for him to present his photographs in Athens and thanked the supporters of his exhibition including the Greek President, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, the Kytherian Association of Australia, the Kalymnian Association of NSW, the Nicholas Anthony Aroney Trust, The Greek Orthodox Community and Church of Canberra and District Inc., and St Basil’s NSW/ACT.
“Nothing would have been possible without George [Karantonis, the director of the exhibition] and Erini [Alligiannis, curator of the Australian exhibition],” Bourdaniotis said.
The photographer also made special mention of the contribution of Nikos Roussos from the Athens War Museum for the curation of the exhibition in Athens.
Later, Bourdaniotis revealed to The Greek Herald that The Evzones Collection will soon be travelling to the Australian city of Brisbane in Queensland, while discussions are also underway for it to travel to the United States and the United Kingdom.
Significant contributors of the exhibition are Athens War Museum, Greek City Times, Image Smart and the Hellenic Club Sydney.
