Beyond Destruction
Rhodes, Thessaly, Evros
In 2023, Greece was hit by a series of devastating natural disasters. Wildfires and floods claimed many lives and left behind destroyed homes, devastated landscapes and entire communities plunged into loss and uncertainty. Photographer Ilir Tsouko and writer Anja Troelenberg travelled to the affected areas a few months after the disasters and encountered a profound paradox: in the darkest moments a ray of light often illuminates who we truly are. Disasters nοt only destroy, they also reveal - forcing us to confront the reality of our society: how we fall apart or come together when faced with the unthinkable. The project “Beyond Destruction” tells a story of survival, the meaning of community, and the indomitable human spirit.
Introduction
Stories
Videos
#1 The couple
Sotiris Giotas and Ioulia Baklava from Vlochos, Thessaly, talk about their house that was destroyed by the flood in the summer of 2023.
#2 The forester
Giorgos Pistolas from Alexandroupoli talks about the forest that was burned in the summer of 2023 and the efforts to restore it.
#3 The beekeeper
Giorgos Karafyllidis from Evros talks about his beehives that were scorched in the summer of 2023 and the rebirth of nature.
