EVICTED

KOS, GREECE, 2024

The Greek island of Kos is a goldmine for artists. It rose to prominence in the 5th century BC as the birthplace of Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine. Over the centuries, Kos has been ruled by various powers, including Persians, Athenians, Romans, and Ottomans. Today, the island enchants visitors with its ancient ruins, medieval architecture, and stunning natural landscapes.

I arrived in the summer of 2024 with a different focus. I wanted to encapsulate the side of Kos most don't see. The not-so-idyllic suburbs of Kos town. 

Among the new hotels and private beaches were half-finished complexes and abandoned buildings. The soft underbelly of Greece. Its economy is based heavily on tourism. The areas away from the attractions are run-down. 

As an artist, this intrigued me. I captured the rough edges because they were beautiful. Roughness is character. They weren't possessed with an artificial facade catering to tourists. They showed clues to its true character. It was authentic. 

There were even run-down places in the town centre. Tucked down narrow side streets. Away from the main roads. Hidden in plain sight. 

The challenge was making one frame that encapsulated this. I walked to the town centre every morning before the tourists were awake. This gave me space to roam the streets and find places that I would've missed at a busy hour. 

After searching for a few hours, I found a door. It looked like it hadn't been opened for 50 years. It was dressed with letters of eviction and overdue bills. The bills aren't going to be paid soon. These scenes make me wonder what happened and why they left the house. It asks more questions than it answers. 

"I CAPTURED THE ROUGH EDGES BECAUSE THEY WERE BEAUTIFUL. ROUGHNESS IS CHARACTER.

–JACOB J. WATSON-HOWLAND

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