I LOVE KOS, VOLUME II
Αρχιτέκτονας δεν είμαι, ούτε ειδικός, σαν κάτοικος, σαν επισκέπτης μπορώ να μιλήσω και σαν ερασιτέχνης φωτογράφος και σαν "απλός τηλεθεατής".
α. Δεν υπάρχει πόλη που να επισκέφθηκα που να έχει αντίστοιχη κατασκευή και να μην τη φωτογράφησα ή να μην φωτογραφήθηκα σ' αυτήν.
β. Η πρώτη μου αυθόρμητη αντίδραση ήταν "Αχ, τι καλά! Επιτέλους το φέραμε και στην Κω!" Δεν σκέφτηκα ούτε ότι το αντιγράψαμε, ούτε ότι είναι σε λάθος θέση, ούτε ότι έχει κακή αισθητική, απλά χάρηκα σαν μικρό παιδί.
γ. Περίμενα δέκα λεπτά την πρώτη φορά και είκοσι τη δεύτερη για να φωτογραφήσω το I love Kos άδειο γιατί υπήρχε συνεχόμενη ροή ανθρώπων που ήθελαν να φωτογραφηθούν.
ε. Υπάρχουν παγκοσμίως παραδείγματα "άσχημων" ή "αταίριαστων" ή "μοντέρνων" κατασκευών που αποσπούν την προσοχή από άλλα παλαιότερα, ιστορικότερα ή εμβληματικότερα κτίρια, όπως για παράδειγμα στο Μουσείο του Λούβρου.
Φωτογραφίες: Sophia Karagianni
Ακολουθεί η μετάφραση του άρθρου στα αγγλικά:
I LOVE KOS, VOLUME II
After the I 💖 Kos sign at the Marina of Kos—which sparked a lot of discussion—the second I Love Kos has arrived, this time at the most central point of the island: the port, right in front of the Town Hall.
I read all the comments very carefully and reflected deeply on many things that might not initially cross my own mind. I respect and agree with the views expressed: that we should show respect for the history and tradition of a place; that perhaps it should have been installed in a different location so as not to distract from more important landmarks in the area—such as the historic Town Hall building; and that maybe there should be a special committee responsible for deciding on the installation of such structures.
I am not an architect, nor an expert. I speak as a resident, as a visitor, as an amateur photographer, and as a “simple observer.”
a. There is no city I have visited that has a similar installation which I did not photograph—or take a photo in front of.
b. My first spontaneous reaction was, “Oh, how nice! We finally have it in Kos!” I didn’t think about imitation, or about whether it was in the wrong place, or about aesthetics—I simply felt happy, like a small child.
c. The first time I waited ten minutes and the second time twenty, just to photograph the I Love Kos sign without people in it, because there was a constant flow of visitors wanting to take photos.
d. I honestly believe that the media will go into overdrive and that the hashtag #ilovekos will take on a whole new dimension.
e. Worldwide, there are many examples of “ugly,” “out-of-place,” or “modern” structures that draw attention away from older, more historic or iconic buildings—such as the case of the Louvre Museum.
I don’t usually express a personal opinion, but I decided to do so this time because, like it or not, there is also the ordinary public—the simple visitor—who takes joy even in small developments and chooses to see the positive side of the story. If, over time, it turns out that it doesn’t work or doesn’t deliver what was expected, I imagine it can always be relocated or removed. That’s all.
