One-night special at Zoumboulakis on photographer Diamandopoulos
Well known for his portraits of personalities, Takis Diamandopoulos defines himself as a «making» photographer. Unlike those who hit the streets, choosing an angle and an event – whom he refers to as «taking» photographers – he goes into a studio and creates a story. An exhibition of his most recent work goes on display tomorrow at the Zoumboulakis Galleries on Kolonaki Square, for one night only. «I think that a single evening is enough,» says Diamandopoulos of the show, adding that after numerous conversations with colleagues and gallery owners the general consensus is that very few people attend photographic exhibitions or follow the work of a photographer. Essentially, tomorrow’s exhibition, which features 44 black-and-white photos, is the fruit of two years’ worth of work; Greek and foreign artists, writers and show business folk, all facing the curious lens of Diamandopoulos: directors such as Robert Wilson, David Lynch and Jules Dassin; athletes such as Costas Kenderis; authors such as Vassilis Vassilikos and Soti Triandafyllou; actors such as Natalia Dragoumi, Smaragda Karydi, Andonis Kafetzopoulos and Gogo Brebou; National Gallery director Marina Lambraki-Plaka and Dolly Goulandris, the driving force behind the Cycladic Museum of Art; and politicians and businessmen such as Yiannis Kapsis and Vangelis Mytilineos. Stemming from a family of photographers, Diamondopoulos’s grandfather was a professional in Asia Minor while his father, Thanassis, was a prominent portrait photographer who collaborated with the National Theater; that is where young Takis and his brother Dinos first caught a glimpse of the artistic world. Since then, the two siblings have shared the same passion for the medium, while over the last 30 years they have dominated the field. Since his first shoot for French Vogue in 1972, Diamandopoulos has shot fashion editorials for both local and foreign publications, while since the 1990s the photographer has concentrated on portraits, introducing high-tech processing and a rather minimalist approach to styling. He has seldom worked in advertising, as he never takes photos of objects. A free-of-charge collector’s edition featuring the exhibition’s portraits, published by Kastaniotis, awaits all those who attend tomorrow’s event. Takis Diamandopoulos at the Zoumboulakis Galleries, 20 Kolonaki Square, tel 010.360.8278. Starts at 8 p.m.
