George Georgiou

Artist Statement

Against the backdrop of the 2016 presidential election and the constant emphasis on demographics, George Georgiou decided to look at that most American of activities, the parade, or more specifically, the community that views the parade. Americans Parade is a parade of Americans. One after the other, from one community to the next, building up a picture of Americans at this most volatile of times. Throughout the year Georgiou visit 26 parades, in 24 cities across 14 states. From huge crowds in NYC or Laredo, Texas, to small family groups in Baton Rouge, Louisiana or Ripley, West Virginia. Through details, gestures and interactions, the work explores the individual, the community and the social and political fractures that have left Americans walled off from one another along lines of race, class and geography. The resulting work is a group portrait of the USA, of multiple identities, where people stand together, in a company of strangers.

Bio

George Georgiou was born in London to Greek Cypriot parents. He has photographed extensively in the Balkans, Eastern Europe and Turkey for the last decade, living and working in Serbia, Greece and Istanbul. His work has focused on transition and identity and how people negotiate the space they find themselves in.

Awards include two World Press Photo prizes in 2003 and 2005, The British Journal of Photography project prize 2010, Pictures of the Year International first prize for Istanbul Bombs in 2004 and a Nikon Press Award UK for best photo essay 2000.
George’s works were exhibited at Hereford Photography Festival, Oct 2011; Fotoleggendo Festival, Rome, Italy, 2010; Centro Italiano Arte Contemporanea , Foligno, Italy, 2010; Spazio Labo, Bologna, Italy, 2010; Side Gallery, Newcastle, UK 2010; Noorderlicht, Holland, 2008; the Month of Photography, Athens, 2008; Moving Walls, New York, 2008; Leica Gallery Solms, Germany 2005; and in Serbia, Kosovo, Slovenia, among the others.

In 2011 his pictures has been diplayed at MoMa, New York, New Photography 2011. His book Fault Lines/Turkey/East/West is published in Italy, UK, France, Greece.