Following the death of her father four years ago, Ioanna Sakellaraki returned to her homeland of Greece and began The Truth is in the Soil. As part of own grieving process, she explored her mother’s grief in relation to their country's social and religious norms, before expanding her research to traditional mourning rites. She was particularly drawn to the ritual laments of the last professional mourners in the Mani peninsula of Greece, an area known for its breathtaking scenery.
Ioanna Sakellaraki. Dream collaborator: ‘René Magritte because of the conversational dynamic of surrealism in his practice that placed his artworks in the crossroads of different discourses.’
Families would hire these women to passionately lead in lament at funerals, offering both emotional release and a celebration of life. Sakellaraki explains how mourning as a profession dates back to ancient times, with roots in Greek tragedy. It is now, as it were, a dying art.
Sakellaraki’s work highlights the ways in which memory and grief go hand in hand. She also explores the connection between professionally performed emotion and photography, as an image often captures a staged moment. Whether impulsive or deliberate, an act is manipulated the moment it is photographed, turned into a scene to be viewed like theatre. She concludes, ‘Greece is a constant inspiration and encounter in this work, but the way it is depicted is imagined.’
Above: Moirologia (fate songs), 2018. Below: Moira Thanatoio (destiny of death), The Truth is in the Soil, 2018
Thysiasterion (sacred altrar), The Truth is in the Soil, 2019
INFORMATION
-
Clocking on: the bedside analogue timepieces that won’t alarm your aestheticWe track down the only tick-tocks that matter, nine traditional alarm clocks that tell the time with minimum fuss and maximum visual impact
-
Architecture, sculpture and materials: female Lithuanian artists are celebrated in NîmesThe Carré d'Art in Nîmes, France, spotlights the work of Aleksandra Kasuba and Marija Olšauskaitė, as part of a nationwide celebration of Lithuanian culture
-
‘There is more work to be done in the garden’: Dries Van Noten on deciding to grow his burgeoning beauty lineFor Dries Van Noten, 2024 has been a landmark year. After stepping down from fashion in June, the designer speaks to Wallpaper* about a new focus on nurturing the brand’s beauty line and spending more time in his beloved garden
-
Rory Hamovit: Wallpaper* Next Generation 2021Our Next Generation 2021 showcase shines a light on 21 outstanding graduates from around the globe, Wallpaper’s pick of the best new talent in seven creative fields. Here, we profile LA photographer Rory Hamovit.
-
Igor Pjörrt: Wallpaper* Next Generation 2021Our Next Generation 2021 showcase shines a light on 21 outstanding graduates from around the globe, Wallpaper’s pick of the best new talent in seven creative fields. Here we profile Igor Pjörrt, photography graduate of ECAL, Lausanne, Switzerland.
-
Weichi He Peng: Wallpaper* Next Generation 2021Our Next Generation 2021 showcase shines a light on 21 outstanding graduates from around the globe, Wallpaper’s pick of the best new talent in seven creative fields. Here, we profile ECAL graduate Weichi He Peng.
-
Abbie Reilly: Wallpaper* Next Generation 2021Our Next Generation 2021 showcase shines a light on 21 outstanding graduates from around the globe, Wallpaper’s pick of the best new talent in seven creative fields. Here, we profile the illustrator and Birmingham City University graduate, Abbie Reilly.
-
Olivia Joan: Wallpaper* Next Generation 2021Our Next Generation 2021 showcase shines a light on 21 outstanding graduates from around the globe, Wallpaper’s pick of the best new talent in seven creative fields. Here, we profile graduate of Parsons School of Design, New York, Olivia Joan.
