Destination Othonoi
>28. 6. 2017<
Othonoi island is the first or the last of Ionian islands. It lies opposite Albania. Its name means “throne”, because in Paleolithic, three islands – Othonoi, Mathraki and Erikoussa – were one land and also connected to Corfu, as the sea level was lower…
Although small and with as few as 300 all year round inhabitants, Othonoi has its very particular and strong character. It has an intensive history, being close to Italy on the fringe of the Strait of Otranto. In recent history, most islanders spent their productive time in the USA and came back with their savings. Now the island flourishes! Why? Because 3 to 4 years ago, one man, Yannis Katehis, returned on his father’s island and step by step his vision was put to practice by 21 associates of KIPPKO association. What do they do? As an independent group with a large group of followers, they are taking over the island, investing their own time and money: the port, water, waste, clearing old walking trails, sustainable agriculture, everything connected with tourism … All of this is already happening here. According to Yannis, the only threat that for the future of the island is the ongoing occupation of Greece, which is targeting the oil basin that lies beneath the Othonoi part of Ionian sea. …
Photos in this post are by Marko Vodanović and Bojan B MED Land project is work in progress.
See full gallery H E R E!
Production: proja.org; Concept, Photography; Audio interviewing, Editing: Bojan Brecelj; Portraits: self-portraits with Selffish Studio set
Destination Zante
>23. 6. 2017<
The island of Zante in Ionian sea, formally known as Zakynthos, is formally an intensive tourist destination, but it also has another side. There are millions of olive trees here, most of them well cultivated.
People who shared their stories with the Med Land project reflect their strong connection with the island. Nature, family ties, olive trees, freedom, spontaneity, sustainable living, organic farming by default, closeness to the sea, safe environment … were the recurring concepts for most of them. There is one common point to all: to find and follow their stories that come from their hearts…
Photos in this post are by Marko Vodanović and Bojan Brecelj MED Land project is work in progress.
See full gallery H E R E!
Production: proja.org; Concept, Photography, Audio interviewing, Editing: Bojan Brecelj; Portraits: self-portraits with Selffish Studio set
Destination Ithaca
>15. 6. 2017<
On Ithaca, MED project started to roll …
8 stories by 11 storytellers were completed. They will also be published and announced here, story by story. Ithaca proved to be very spacious. Some say it is “behind”, not yet occupied by tourism and extensive property business for holiday villas, but I would say that for the same reason, Ithaca is also ahead, since people are living in connection with the island. Many came back here … like Odyssey. Foreigners are welcome, to visit and to live here, too, but the locals don’t like to step over their own values: respect for family and nature, and work just for money …
All photos in this post are by Marko Vodanović. MED Land project is work in progress.
See full gallery H E R E!
Production: proja.org; Concept, Photography; Audio interviewing, Editing: Bojan Brecelj; Portraits: self-portraits with Selffish Studio set
First destination: Ionian islands
>4. 6. 2017<
Our first destination of 2017 is Greece, Ionian islands, from May 15 until end of June.
Othonoi, Ithaca, and Zakyntos islands are the destinations to meet people who will tell their uniquie stories through photos, self portraits and interviews, reflecting their lives rooted in there home land and sea. The crew consists of Bojan Brecelj and Marko Vodanović, also a photographer, a native from the island of Hvar, skillful at the sea and with the boat. His photos are actually reflecting the story-making, and most of the images published on the Facebook page are his. Beside assisting in the field, he is ready to do anything needed on the boat, including repairs :-))
For the first ten days, we were joined by Diane Kulpinski. Her background is photography and journalism, and her focus in the project was to be a “stringer”, finding and contacting certain people that could be interesting for the first interviews on the Ithaca island.
MED Land project is work in progress.
See full gallery H E R E!
Production: proja.org; Concept, Photography; Audio interviewing, Editing: Bojan Brecelj; Portraits: self-portraits with Selffish Studio set