Under what criteria can we define absurdity? Is “common sense” the perfect reference for recognising the meaningful, and the rational?
I grew up under the common western norms of what is reasonable. Actually, I followed all the “right” steps that lead safely to a successful and happy life.
Looking back, the last time I felt excited and genuinely happy about something was during my childhood; with my vivid imagination, I was constantly experimenting, tasting, feeling the world around me…
This amazing feeling came back in my adult life only when I started being interested in the absurd; chasing objects, and life scenes that make no practical sense; events and facts that you doubt about their existence.
In a world full of rationalism and ubiquitous political correctness, these small spikes of confusion may be the key for subverting the absurd into something substantial, and fascinating.
Marinos Tsagkarakis was born (1984) and raised in the island of Crete. He studied contemporary photography at “Stereosis” Photography School. Since 2014, he is a member of the collective “Depression Era” that inhabits the urban and social landscape of the economic crisis in his home country.
His work has been featured in numerous exhibitions and international festivals, including Mois De La Photo (Paris), Jeju Biennale (South Korea), Unseen (Amsterdam), Fotofilmic (L.A & Vancouver), Athens Photo Festival, Biennale of Contemporary Art of Thessaloniki, and several galleries in Europe, and USA.
In 2017, it was published his first (sold-out) photobook, “Paradise Inn”, by Void. Part of his artwork belongs to international private and archival collections.
Since 2019, he is represented by the Milan-based art gallery Office Project Room.
