the garden

During the period 2019-2023, Vasilis Mantas was intensively engaged in the search for, but mainly in understanding the relationship that can exist between architectural spaces defined as "garden, courtyard, patio", and the parallel relationship that nature can have with memory, remembrance and the generations that interact with them.

Through this work are explored, the incentives of people to create or not to create a garden, the usability of these spaces in relation to the geographical area and the different approaches depending on the building zone, social, economic, and cultural conditions.

The research is geographically located in the region of Thessaloniki and Chalkidiki. The purpose of this geographical identification is to achieve more direct comparability of the different approaches that mostly come from the same population.

Also, in a theoretical context, we could support that Chalkidiki (especially its western part) has been functioning for decades as the "courtyard" of Thessaloniki, as it is the most popular place of temporary or semi-permanent residence during the summer months.

In summary, through the photographic series "The Garden" an attempt is made to understand and answer the following questions:

What is the incentive to create the garden and what is the connection with the past and the future.

How do they relate to memory and recollection, birth, and death and what is the parallel relationship with natural development?

What are the social implications, similarities, and differences?

And finally, how is the imaginary line that separates privacy from public display defined?