PHOTO: The Spirit of the Time (Part II)
dreamideamachine AMKE and the Photometrisis Photographic Club of Salamina present the group exhibition “The Spirit of the Time” at Galerie Desmos in Paris. This marks the fifth consecutive year of collaboration between dreamideamachine.resident, dreamideamachine AMKE, and Galerie Desmos, a gallery rooted in the historic bookstore that once hosted the Greek — and international — intellectual scene of the 1980s and ’90s. In partnership with Photometrisis, the exhibition features 15 photographers, most of whom participated in the Workshop – Introduction to Contemporary Art Practices (Part I).
By Efi Michalarou
Photo: Artists Archive
The exhibition “The Spirit of the Time” aims to explore and express, through the power of image — in color or black-and-white — the dominant intellectual, social, political, and cultural currents of our time. Its inspiration stems from the Pink Floyd song “Time,” which captures the shock of realizing how quickly time slips away. While one may feel at the start of a journey, it soon becomes clear that one is already halfway through. In these fleeting moments, photography captures the ephemeral, leaving an indelible mark: a great moment in photography can happen in a single click. For Eleni Andreou, time mirrors the afterimage, obsessively lingering in front of her no matter how many times she closes her eyes to clear the memory and capture it with her lens. Vasilis Antoniadis perceives time as both flowing and still, observing us like a half-body, reflecting our own presence in the world. Ruud Broersma situates time across past, present, and future, with old books and a pen resting on the remnants of a bygone era — testimony to a time that once was. Eleftheria Ganotidou transforms hours into minutes, minutes into seconds, and moments into centuries: “We move in endless circles. Days pass, yet we remain children within ourselves. Then comes the fog. The veil of time embraces all we knew and loved…”
Theofanis Evangelodimos sees time not as a line but as a surface we repeatedly touch, leaving traces. He measures it not in years, but in encounters, wrinkles, and silences. In our hands, time appears persistent rather than hostile. Manos Kilimantzos presents time as an elusive cosmic archetype, unpredictable and fleeting, like a bird hunting in the air — sensed through its effects, but ultimately beyond human comprehension. Georgia Kotsirilu envisions tireless time flowing and dripping, shaping forms like stalactites and stalagmites. Humans, in turn, give form to the moment. For Kostas Lagos, the photographer, as a true flâneur, wanders aimlessly through the urban landscape, observing, reflecting, and witnessing the transformation of the cityscape. Thanasis Xenos emphasizes the human tendency to construct and take pride in objects, only for Time to erode them, reminding us of life’s preordained cycles. Vangelis Papathanasiou captures nature as a medium of presence and reflection. Among mountains, mist, and silence, landscapes dissolve into pure experience. Peaks shrouded in clouds and galaxies scattered across the night sky are, for him, different expressions of the same wonder. He photographs nature not only out of love, but to experience its simultaneity of the small and the immense.
Dimitra Papatheohari investigates the complex duality of modern womanhood. Through her lens, she illuminates the woman as both mother — source of life, care, and unconditional love — and professional, striving in the workplace, pursuing goals, and claiming her place in society. She envisions this balance not as linear, but as a dynamic dance of priorities, where empathy, self-awareness, and flexibility take center stage. Through his work, Panos Papasotiriou explores the intertwined nature of loss, memory, and time. The absence of loved ones leaves a permanent imprint on the soul. His self-portraits serve as mirrors to inner reflection, capturing grief’s complexity and the solace of memory. For Vicky Sousouni, time flows through metal and shadow. Bells ring and marks endure, reminding us that nothing remains. Time cannot be held; it carries both past and future, weighing heavy, demanding awareness, and leaving memory in its wake.
Environmental awareness informs Anna Stambira’s practice. A member of the volunteer group “Kathari-Zw,” she engages in forest and coastal cleanups in Salamina. She photographs moments where nature and humanity coexist in an ongoing cycle, framed by her love for hiking, swimming, art, music, exercise, and reading. Finally, Nikolas Fyteles investigates the intersection of image, time, and subjective experience. His work navigates the space between documentary and staged photography, exploring existential and psychological themes. Using light, composition, and abstraction, he creates a reflective field where the visible engages with inner experience, focusing on transitional, silent, or liminal situations where external reality dialogues with internal perception.
Works by: Eleni Andreou, Basilis Antoniadis, Ruud Broersma, Theofanis Evangelodimos , Nikolas Fyterles, Terry Ganotidou, Manos Kilimantzos, Georgia Kotsirilou, Kostas Lagos, Panos Papasotiriou, Vangelis Papathanasiou, Dimitra Papatheohari, Viky Sousouni, Anna Stampira, Thanasis Xenos
Photo: Vangelis Papathanasiou, Mystery at the Summit, October 2023, Black‑and‑White Photograph Mounted on KapaFix, 30×40 cm. © Vangelis Papathanasiou
Info: Curators: Efi MIchalarou & Dimitris Lempesis, Galerie Desmos, 14 Rue Vandamme, Paris, France, Duration: 7-13/2/2026, Days & Hours: Sat 15:00-20:00, Mon-Fri 12:00-15:00
