The traveling exhibition “On the Move” is a photographic journey through the lives and challenges faced by transhumant shepherds in the Mediterranean. It is currently on its sixth stop in Greece, after successful exhibitions in Switzerland, France, Lebanon, Tunisia and Spain. The “On the Move” exhibition is being held in the framework of a project on transhumance implemented by the Mediterranean Consortium for Nature and Culture in which Med-INA is a member.
Until the 14th October 2014, “On the Move” is being hosted in the Averoff Μuseum in the village of Metsovo. Built in a strategic location amidst the breathtaking setting of the Pindos mountain range, Metsovo is part of the Protected Area of the Northern Pindos National Park, study area for transhumance in Greece. The exhibition is complemented with items from the Metsovo Folklore Museum, as well as an extensive set of photographs by Costas Balafas (1920-2011) that portray the lives of transhumant shepherds in the Pindos area.
The opening of the exhibition took place in the courtyard of the Averoff Μuseum on the 29th July with great success. It was attended by a wide range of individuals and organisations from transhumant shepherds to the local community to representatives of the Local Authorities. Representatives of the member organisations of the Mediterranean Consortium for Nature and Culture from Lebanon, Tunisia, Spain and Switzerland were also present in the event. Opening speeches were delivered by the president of the Averoff Μuseum, the Municipality of Epirus, Med-INA, the Management Body Vikos-Aoos and Pindos and Pindos Perivallontiki – co-organisers of the exhibition in Greece – and from DiversEarth on behalf of the Mediterranean Consortium for Nature and Culture. Local cheeses and wines, kindly provided by the Evangelos Averoff Tositsa Foundation, were offered to the visitors.
“On the Move” will travel to Athens where it will make its second and final stop in Greece before it is sent abroad to continue raising awareness on the issue of transhumance across the Mediterranean. In Athens it will be hosted in the Michael Cacoyannis Foundation, a modern cultural institution in the center of the city, from 21st October to 11th November.
“On the Move” aims to portray the challenging lives of the remaining transhumant shepherds in the Mediterranean and to raise awareness on the importance of preserving and even reviving this practice through the work of six professional photographers, Stamos Abatis from Greece, Baris Korca from Turkey, Yunes Tazi from Morocco, Wassim Ghozlani from Tunisia, Assad Saleh from Lebanon and Gemma Arrugaeta from Spain. More information on the exhibition is available here.
