Panayis Chrysovergis b. 1978 (Athens, Greece)

Biography
My work and travels…I spent 8 years working as a Mechanical Engineer before I realised my artistic and creative nature was not getting satisfied (only my nature craving to break things did). Once I understood that documentary photography was my future, I pursued the studying of the field with vigour and passion.I have since travelled the world, focusing on social issues and producing pictures on the humanitarian crisis, to places such as India, Turkey, Syria, Jordan, France, Italy, Estonia, Sweden, Finland, and the USA among others.My photo projects have been published in websites, newspapers, and magazines worldwide (Le Monde, Guardian, Le journal de la Photographie, I-D magazine, Vice, National Geographic among others) whilst my interests and subjects expanded into additional artistic and creative areas.I have spent a long time learning about light, about people, about emotions and cultures all of which finally led me to…the telling of stories. This was the missing piece in my puzzle, the one making me abandon one career for another, which took me around the world and allowed me first hand to experience humanity in its raw and most extraordinary moments. The story-telling part of working as a documentary photographer is what has shaped my approach, influences and drives me to this day.
Studies/Academics/Awards from Athens, to New York, Paris & London2019-2021 Accepted for a MA programme in photography at the Royal College of Arts2010-2014 Documentary Photography, Department of Photography & Audio-Visual Arts, Athens2012-2013 Photojournalism and Documentary Photography Programme, ICP, NY2013-2014 International Research Residency Programme, Ecole Nationale et Superieure de la Photographie, Paris2013 Best Young Photographers at the Athens Photo Festival2014 1st Place at the Sony World Photography Awards.2017 Awarded member of the Wedding photojournalistic Association Exhibitions2017 Photometria photo festival, solo exhibition, (Ioannina, Greece), Selected work.2014 Gallery Arena in Arles (France), Lune de Sel, The Salt Work of Camargue South of France2013 Athens Photo Festival (Greece), Heterotopia2013 Center of Mediterranean Architecture, Crete (Greece), Heterotopia2013 Lone Tree Arts Centre, Colorado (USA), Heterotopia2012 Indianapolis University of Athens (Greece) Solo Exhibition2011 Light Room Projects, Athens (Greece), Faces and Stories of Athens Street2010 Society for the Study of Cultural Alterity of Athens, The Concept of ‘Mistake’ in Photography