Lavrio, the scenes of a performance

An exhibition, which is going to reveal the Greek industrial heritage, will be organized by Benaki museum from 26 April until 20 May 2012. The principal idea of the exhibition is the photographic depiction of the industrial spaces of the mine in Lavrio, as they were kept in 1987 and were taken in picture.

The exhibition of photographs is undertaken by George Vartholomaios, who uses the technique of chiaroscuro for the depiction of an abandoned industrial space, which keeps also elements of the emblematic past.

Mines in Lavrio, known for their activity from ancient era, are one of the most known and important Greek mines. Starting their activity in 4^th century BC and with large periods of abandonment, mines  get into function in 1864, with initiative of Andreas Kordellas. Mines were operated under the same administration until 1877, when two enterprises undertake the administration. After an uproarious historical period, mines are abandoned since 1982, as a consequence of the deindustrialization in Greece in the eighties. In 1994, the factory of the French enterprise of The mines in Lavrio was bought by the Ministry of Culture , was declared a landmark and was given to National technical University of Athens theta created the Cultural-technological park in Lavrio.

This is the story that G. Vartholomaios wants to describe through photos with contrasts and the drawn up of the abandoned past.

Location: Benaki museum, Athens
Duration: 26 April- 20 may 2012
More information: HERE

Editing: Panagiota- Nefeli Mavroeidi