— Poster contribution for
@grd.mag 's special issue and exhibition celebrating 100+ years of Rebetiko.
“Rebetiko” is an urban Greek music genre that emerged in the early 20th century, shaped by working-class and displaced communities. It developed mainly in port cities and reflects everyday life, hardship, and social margins. Working directly with archival material, I gathered and scanned photos of singers, musicians and figures from the era, in order to treat each image as a fragment of the music’s DNA.
Echoing the passage of time, 100 portraits shape a dense visual and cultural palimpsest—an homage to over a century of Rebetiko told through those who gave it a face, a voice and a soul. A collective body of gazes, attitude and lived experiences. Seen individually, each face carries its own weight; seen together, they form Rebetiko itself. Their eyes, clothing, posture and unique presence reveal the toughness, dignity and intensity that shaped the sound and essence of its heritage.
#grd #grdmagazine #rebetiko #poster #artwork
