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The magazine of the photo-essay
Oct back 2016 issue
Mediterranean The Continuity of Man A new book and exhibition
by Nick Hannes
A free, really high quality photo-essay magazine.  Fabulous! Stephen Fry. British actor, writer and film & documentary maker
“The Pacific may have the most changeless ageless aspect of any ocean, but the Mediterranean Sea celebrates the continuity of man.” (British historian, Ernle Bradford) The Mediterranean region has many faces. Rich in history and blessed with a pleasant climate, the Med is the most popular tourist destination in the world. Over 220 million tourists flock to the Mediterranean’s beaches every year, putting great pressure on its natural scenery. At the same time the Med functions as an unintentional castle-moat around Fortress Europe. Despite the danger, thousands of desperate immigrants from Africa and Asia continuously attempt to cross the water in shabby boats. From 2010 until 2014 I travelled the length and breadth of the
Mediterranean shores, documenting various contemporary issues such as tourism, urbanization, borders and migration in 20 different countries that share the sea. While I was working on this project, the region continuously hit the headlines: crisis in Greece, the Arab Spring, boat refugees, wars in Libya, Syria, and Gaza. My photographs juxtapose parallel realities, in order to put things in perspective. ‘Mediterranean. The Continuity of Man’ can be considered a kaleidoscopic documentary portrait of the region and the zeitgeist, characterized by huge contrasts and crises of different kinds. The enriching crossroads of cultures Bradford refers to in the quote above, has become a barrier nowadays. The cradle of civilization today has become the grave of many. “Here, at this crossroads of space and time, where the ancient sea indifferently links or divides people; here, just like in Nick Hannes’ photos, people are coincidental passers-by in the unscrupulous, ever repeating spectacle that we call ‘History.” (Belgian author, Michael De Cock)
Izola, Slovenia.
Pamukkale, Turkey.
Mediterranean cruise.
Valencia, Spain.
Saint-Tropez, France.
La Linea de le Concepcion, Spain.
A traditional sirtaki dance at the wedding of Anna and Christos Karalis in Rio, Greece. To save on expenses, Christos decided to organize the wedding party at the gas station he owns.
Marmaris, Turkey.
Istanbul, Turkey.
Cairo, Egypt.
Adana, Turkey.
Cairo, Egypt.
Sirte, Libya.
Anti-immigration fence, Ceuta, Spain.
Asylum seekers in Athens, Greece.
Palase, Albania.
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