Dear reader,
We owe this beautiful display to Nikos Tzivelekis who is 19 years old. Born in Pangrati, Athens. Nikos first became acquainted with the shadow puppet which changed his life in early childhood when he was given one as a present. Something inside him clicked! He was quite simply enamoured by this cheeky puppet and what was once a hobby become a passion. Hopefully after university (he's studying Theatre at Athens University) it will be a career. Niko makes his own shadow puppets and scenery which can take anything from an hour to a couple of days of designing, cutting, hammering, painting. He enjoyed countless Karagiozis shows as a youngster in the audience but now he puts on his own performances all over Athens and outside of Attica.
6 years ago, I was roused from sleep by a knocking sound and then a very satirical voice magnified by a microphone. It was a very strange experience and a little bit frightening to tell you the truth! Some time later these mysterious strange sounds were tracked to the new neighbours who had moved in the apartment above. That is how I became better acquainted with the magical world of karagiozis.
I have heard it said that if you enjoy your job you will never have to work again and this is so true with Niko. Most of you reading this will probably be anywhere between the ages of 12 to 18. I urge you therefore dear reader to take a serious look at your interests and what you really enjoy whatever it may be.With focus determination and hard work you too at a young age may be realize your dreams! (Ms Andrews)
We owe this beautiful display to Nikos Tzivelekis who is 19 years old. Born in Pangrati, Athens. Nikos first became acquainted with the shadow puppet which changed his life in early childhood when he was given one as a present. Something inside him clicked! He was quite simply enamoured by this cheeky puppet and what was once a hobby become a passion. Hopefully after university (he's studying Theatre at Athens University) it will be a career. Niko makes his own shadow puppets and scenery which can take anything from an hour to a couple of days of designing, cutting, hammering, painting. He enjoyed countless Karagiozis shows as a youngster in the audience but now he puts on his own performances all over Athens and outside of Attica.
6 years ago, I was roused from sleep by a knocking sound and then a very satirical voice magnified by a microphone. It was a very strange experience and a little bit frightening to tell you the truth! Some time later these mysterious strange sounds were tracked to the new neighbours who had moved in the apartment above. That is how I became better acquainted with the magical world of karagiozis.
I have heard it said that if you enjoy your job you will never have to work again and this is so true with Niko. Most of you reading this will probably be anywhere between the ages of 12 to 18. I urge you therefore dear reader to take a serious look at your interests and what you really enjoy whatever it may be.With focus determination and hard work you too at a young age may be realize your dreams! (Ms Andrews)
Karagiozis or Karaghiozis (Modern Greek: Καραγκιόζης, Turkish; Karagöz) is a shadow puppet and fictional character of Greek and Turkish folklore. He is the main character of the tales narrated in the Turkish and Greek shadow-puppet theatre.
Karagiozis seems to have come to mainland Greece, probably from Asia Minor (Anatolia) at the 19th century, during Ottoman rule. Karagiozis was hellenized in Patras, Greece in the end of 19th century by Dimitrios Sardounis alias Mimaros, who is considered the founder of modern Greek shadow theater.
Karagiozis (Dark Eye in Turkish) is the poverty-stricken common man ‘fighting’ with his satirical tongue the powers that be. Over the ages he has been challenging Ottomans, Germans (2nd world war) to common day ‘adversaries’ like Merkel and Samaras!
He is cheeky, provocative and most definitely annoying to his challenged subjects. Karagiozis lives in a shack with his long-suffering wife Aglaia and his three young sons (Ta Kollitiria).
No comments:
Post a Comment