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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.
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Among the new hotels and private beaches were half-finished complexes and abandoned buildings. It shows the soft underbelly of Greece. Its economy is based heavily on tourism, meaning the areas away from the attractions are often run-down.
As an artist and tourist, 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 the true character of the place. It was authentic.
The challenge was making one frame that encapsulated this. As with many opportunities, the ideal subject was right under my nose.
The challenge was making one frame that encapsulated this. As with many opportunities, the ideal subject was right under my nose.
" I CAPTURED THE ROUGH EDGES BECAUSE THEY WERE BEAUTIFUL. ROUGHNESS IS CHARACTER.
–JACOB J. WATSON-HOWLAND
The building next to my hotel was abandoned. No windows, graffiti tattooed on the walls, rubble everywhere. It was terrific. To top it off, an old car was flipped upside down, literally next to my hotel. I knew this image would scream: "This is the Kos I saw, this is the Kos I love!".
The best part of this print is the juxtaposition of the white wall and pristine hotel plants against the abandoned car and rubble. It sums up the contrast of the town. The two opposing characters. Affluence and abandonement.
"I KNEW THIS IMAGE WOULD SCREAM: "THIS IS THE KOS I SAW, THIS IS THE KOS I LOVE!".
–JACOB J. WATSON-HOWLAND
There are even run-down places in the town centre. Tucked down narrow side streets. Away from the main roads. Hidden in plain sight.
The problem was even the side streets were filled with people. 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.
The problem was even the side streets were filled with people. 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.
There's something so raw in these prints. Every single one encapsulates the exact feelings I felt when I made the frames. Intrigue, intimidation and ignorance. Ignorant to the stories behind why and how these places became the way they were and what they were before. This is just the beginning of this narrative. I'll be back. Not just to Kos, but to the rest of Greece. To continue this story very soon.
"EVERY SINGLE ONE ENCAPSULATES THE EXACT FEELINGS I FELT WHEN I MADE THE FRAMES. INTRIGUE, INTIMIDATION AND IGNORANCE.
–JACOB J. WATSON-HOWLAND
