The project “Kafeneio” consists of portraits of the café owners and their customers since 1972. Kafeneio, an integral part of the Greek social structure in both urban area and countryside, is still maintaining its dynamic at present.
Kafeneio has opened 45 years ago, the same year the photographer was born and it worked until the end of 2017. Every photograph has the name, date of birth and occupation of every person as well as some words about the meaning of it.
Gakis and Marika had an interactive relationship with their customers since before the term “interactive” came to be. Every photographed person has made a statement of what the café really meant to them. The outer stone wall has remained unchanged since the café opened. Every portrait has remained intact. There is neither a conceptual labyrinth, nor a nostalgic intention in the final result. The people and their words are the ultimate description of the café and its them that provided some answers to the photographer about which course to follow in life as a person, as well as a photographer.
