From Hand to Hand: Shared Stories of Craftsmanship in Greece

　　The similarities between cultural worker/art curator, Laura Bernhardt, and art director/photographer, Benjamin Tafel, and their respective childhoods as the kids of Grecophile parents seemed destined to have prepared them for their roles as founders of From Hand to Hand, the online destination that celebrates "Stories About Craftsmanship in Greece Today." Inspired by personal stories that the creative duo has collected from traditional artisans during their continuous trips to the country of their childhood vacations, the From Hand to Hand project was officially launched on February the 28th 2017 - through grant funding from the Stiftung Kulturwerk cultural foundation - when Laura and Benjamin became determined to share these tales of resilience, perseverance and emotional strength during the country's growing economic crisis.
　　"The initial idea was driven by our personal relationship with Greece," Benjamin shares, citing that he was only three months old when his parents took him on his first trip to the Northern Sporades islands. "It was a simple, but intense and a cheerful life [during] that time on the islands," he says. Meanwhile, Laura tells us of how her parents bought a goat shed in 1977 located above the coastal village of Kalamos on the Pagasetic Gulf. "I first came to this place when I was one," she says. "I would say it became my second home." In fact, her Godfather was a Capitano (Captain) who "had a beautiful Kaiki and a tavern with a stunning view across the Gulf," she says, citing one of her early memories of the land.

　　Athens. The Evzone‘s Tsarouchia‘s soles, the traditional red clogs, are studded with nails and iron. © Benjamin Tafel.

　　Athens. The core business of Athanasopoulos‘ workshop is to build and repair the wooden greek tavern chair. © Benjamin Tafel.
　　Athens. A workshop specialised in the craft of wickerwork. © Benjamin Tafel.

　　Athens. Stillife of work materials in the workshop of the Mountakis brothers. © Benjamin Tafel.
　　From Hand to Hand is a beautifully curated showcase of Greek craftsmanship, featuring an intimate selection of makers. From boat builders in Pelion, to woodcarvers on the island of Skyros; and Athenian sandal makers, to a women's cooperative in Visitza, all these and many more stories and their accompanying intriguing images on the site shine a spotlight on age old craftsmanship and traditions that are, sadly, being forgotten amongst the fast paced, computer-literate generations of our times.
　　"I appreciate people who treat things with respect and care," Laura shares. After reading the stories on From Hand to Hand it becomes obvious that for these craftspeople their professions are more than mere careers - they are their life and entire way of being. "The boat builders compared their relationships to their boats with a relationship to their own children," Laura says. "I find this metaphor vividly describes what it means for them to invest time, knowledge and creativity in the development of an object that is more than a commodity for them."

　　Athens. The Mentis ribbon weaving company. Detail of the production with the old braiding machine.[/during]

试读已结束，请付费阅读全文。

￥ 0.30付费阅读

登录后可特价购买

  本文只能试读50%,付费后可阅读全文。