The salt-gatherers of Kythera

Vassiliki Georgiou: Thanassis Kastrisios, Avlemonas, 2015

Vassiliki Georgiou, who was awarded a ‘Highly Commended’ for her photo essay on Greek orthodox convents at the Kythera Photographic Encounters of 2013, has been back under the auspices of the Kythera Cultural Association to photograph the island’s unique saltpans and the “alikarioi” who gather the salt every August. Kythera is the last place in Europe where sea salt is still harvested by hand from natural pools along the island’s rocky coastline. Every year in May, In a process going back to the early 19^th century, 25 carefully defined stretches of coastline, including some of the small offshore islets, are auctioned off in public by the Domestic Assets Administration Board or Enchorios Periousia to interested parties. In most cases, they go to salt-gatherers whose families have followed this part-time activity for several generations.

A selection of images from Vassiliki Georgiou’s first visit can be seen here, in the photographic archive pages of Tripelago. More visits will follow with a view to completing both her photographic record and her researches, as she tries to meet with and talk to all those involved in this laborious but rewarding work. Once both processes are completed, the work will be exhibited and hopefully published by the Cultural Association.