Deriving from the Greek word ‘synapsis’ meaning “junction”, synapses are small gaps between neurons where they can pass messages one to another. Synapses are key to the brain’s function, especially when it comes to learning and memory
We have moments of experience, one after another. The psychological present is said to be about three seconds long; that means that in a life there are about 800 million of them (Daniel Kahneman, 2000). Even though memories fade through time, the brain has the ability to collect, connect and create mosaics from these milliseconds-long impressions.
Memory and photography are inextricably linked. They are the closest things we have to a concise depiction of past events. But are they really honest representations of reality? Life is full of personal instances and experiences of apprehending the true nature of a thing, especially through intuitive understanding. Is photography used as a medium to record memories and capture the world around us as we see it or does it convey more than meets the eye?
“Since we cannot change reality, let us change the eyes which see reality.”
Nikos Kazantzakis (Greek writer)
Photography is a way to find connections between the multiple and diverse timescales we experience since we are born. In this ongoing project I use photography to gain an insight of my personal vision of reality and to discover the underlying truth of my world by confronting its absurdities. It becomes the means for a personal struggle of self-knowledge, a deep introspection to face and deal with my own ghosts and fears. Hence, photographs are used as the synapses that link the real world with my unconscious mind and my own interpretation of things.
About Thanos Savvidis
Born in Pafos (Cyprus) in 1972. Photography has gained a great significance in my life since 2008. Participated in several workshops and seminars about photography (with Nikos Economopoulos, Michael Ackerman, Jason Eskenazi, Platon Rivellis, Achilles Nasios, Loukas Vasilikos and Ilias Georgiades). Member of the Cyprus Photographic Society since 2009. Member of the BulbPhotos collective from 2015 – 2018. Participated two international collaborative photographic projects organized by European Capitals of Culture: “In & At” at San Sebastian/Donostia 2016, Aarhus2017 and Pafos2017 and “HOME” at Pafos2017. My work has been presented in several group and solo exhibitions, publications and books. I work as a deputy headteacher in primary education. [Official Website]
