After the fire

The opening ceremony was attended by his spouse Galina Matsoukatova, chairman of advisory board of Central Group Sudhitham Chirathivat, Pichai Chirathivat, Akrasid Amatayakul, and Dr Saranarat Kanjanavanit, chairperson of Green World Foundation. They welcomed art collectors and guests of honour including Pansak Ransibrahmanakul and Pita Limjaroenrat. The exhibition will run until July 10.

 “We are deeply honoured that His Excellency Ambassador Boutos is exhibiting his photographic series for the first time here at Central Embassy, as a part of our campaign ‘For a Greener World: Let’s give our home the future it deserves’. This touching and inspiring photographic exhibition not only shows us the glory of nature, but also serves as a reminder that we need to take care of this planet, our only home,” said Sudhitham.

Moved by the tragedy of the wildfires that ravaged his country, including his hometown, in 2007, the ambassador decided to undertake a major photographic series that would go beyond photojournalism. Every week for a year he made the long trip from Athens and his day job as a diplomat to document the devastated land as it slowly began to resurrect itself.

The result is an extended diary of nature’s struggle for regeneration both manmade and natural, from the tragedy of destruction to the glory of new growth and life, but also portraying the fragility of regeneration.

“There is no doubt that the fires of 2007 were the greatest environmental disaster of the past century for my country. People were perishing in flames, many houses were being destroyed, and extended natural areas neutralised for decades to come. I could not remain unmoved. I felt, as a photographer, that my role started where photojournalism ended. My challenge would be to capture this otherworldliness and uniqueness, to create images at the same time as nature was re-creating herself,” said the ambassador.

A professional diplomat since 1986, Boutos has been an avid photographer for more than 30 years. A self-taught teenager, he perfected his knowledge by following seminars led by Platon Rivellis in the history and aesthetics of photography at the Photography Circle of Athens in 1985. In 2003, while on sabbatical leave, he attended a selection of courses at the School of Visual Arts, and the International Centre of Photography in New York.

He has exhibited his work in Italy, Greece, and the United States and has also published three monographs, including “A Monitor in Croatia” (1993), a photographic diary from a two-month assignment in Croatia to monitor the cease-fire agreement between Serbia and Croatia as part of a team of European Community diplomatic and military personnel. He followed up with “Venice - Carnival Unmasked” (1998) and Reversible (2005).

“Looking through this series of photographs that record one-year cycle after the worst wildfire in Greece’s recent history, we see the theme of death and rebirth of nature, but there is so much details in the story,” added Saranarat from Green World Foundation. “If we pore over these pictures on display and consider them, you will find more interesting stories, weaving in layers. It is, above all, a love story of our loving earth told by a great photographer.”

In addition to the exhibition, Central Embassy has also prepared activities to raise awareness about the environment throughout the complex. On level 2, customers can enjoy browsing eco-friendly products at the “Central Love the Earth” Space. For every Bt1,500 spent in this zone, customers will receive a free Central Love the Earth Bag. Customers can shop for organic, healthy salad by GEB Organic Farm on the same floor, and when spending Bt1,000 on weekends, receive a plant to grow at home. The activity runs until July 10 from 10am to 9pm.

Meanwhile, on level 5, eco-friendly workshops will be held together along with live music performances four times a day from July 7 to 10. Take part in workshop and learn how to recycle such items as plastic bottles and snack boxes into plant pots. To join the workshop, simply make a donation and the proceeds will be donated to Central Group Loves the Earth Foundation. The workshops run from 10am to 9pm daily.

For more information, call (02) 119 7777 ext 2201 or 2203.