George Tatakis’ Caryatis D | Chios at the Chios Mastic Museum: A photographic study of women’s traditional costumes from across Greece

The Piraeus Bank Group Cultural Foundation (PIOP) presents Caryatis D | Chios, a temporary photography exhibition by George Tatakis, opening on Wednesday, 15 July, at the Chios Mastic Museum. The exhibition, a photographic study of women’s traditional costumes from across Greece, will run from Thursday, 16 July, to Thursday, 31 December.

The exhibition features 36 black-and-white photographs selected from dozens of images Tatakis captured on the island of Chios. The works portray women of different generations set against the island’s landscapes, villages, and historic buildings.

Northern villages, Kardamyla

Celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, the Chios Mastic Museum is an ideal venue for the exhibition, reflecting the spirit of the island’s people while conveying its distinctive character and atmosphere.

Having documented traditional costumes and their variations in 21 villages across Chios, the photographer observes:

“In all my journeys, I have never encountered another place with such an extraordinary variety of traditional costumes. Chios, with its remarkable textile production and exceptional craftsmanship, combined with the wealth generated through trade, succeeded in creating this unprecedented diversity of dress. The inhabitants of each village sought to express their prosperity by distinguishing themselves from one another, and as a result every village developed its own distinctive costume.”

The exhibition at the Chios Mastic Museum unfolds as a narrative journey of both aesthetic and anthropological significance. George Tatakis’ photographs engage in dialogue with the place that hosts them, bringing together past, present, and future while inviting visitors to gain a deeper understanding of Chios and its rich cultural heritage.

Through the language of black-and-white photography, Tatakis’ sensitive and perceptive gaze strips away the superfluous to reveal the essence of each image. His photographs emphasise the intricate folds and textures of the garments, trace the enduring marks of time embedded in both the built and natural environment, and illuminate the profound relationship between people, clothing, and place.