Faces of the Aegean 

Lemnos, September 2019. Brothers Constantinos and Petros Sofikitis embark on a personal odyssey named Marabou.

Their journey takes them across the Aegean islands, from the Cyclades to the Sporades and the Dodecanese. Their mission: to uncover untold stories, capturing and sharing them with the world.

Their investigation unfolds amidst the vibrant pulse of island life in cafés, squares, and bustling markets. Engaging in fleeting exchanges or lingering dialogues, they find themselves on the trail of elusive figures often known only by their colourful aliases.

Their quest takes them from Patmos to Arki in search of the famed “Al Capone” of the border island. Other times, their explorations take them off the beaten path to places untouched by tourists. Such was the case when they set sail from Ikaria to find Kyra Rinio, the solitary dweller of Kinaros.

With each passing day, month, and year, their journeys unfold with narratives that evoke a sense of timelessness. The words of each protagonist weave tales that feel like an entire lifetime occurred just yesterday, while others remain unfinished. Among them are many iconic figures whose stories now gaze at us from Constantinos’ photo album and speak to us through Petros’ masterful documentary.

Within these two endeavours lies the recounting of human tales and the earnestness of the two travellers to unveil local customs, traditions, and precious fragments of our cultural heritage. Most importantly, they serve as custodians of our folkloric identity, safeguarding memories of island life and preserving the unique essence of each location. After all, time remains a relative concept, often shrouded beneath layers of dust, waiting for a mighty gust of wind to unveil the faded splendour of those who once thrived within it.

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TEXT : ROMINA XYDA
PHOTOS : CONSTANTINOS SOFIKITIS