Mitos: The Thread of Greece
Michael Pappas
Through his lens, Michael Pappas weaves the thread of history into the fabric of contemporary Greek culture. Mitos: The Thread of Greece is an ongoing ethnographic project, begun in 2019, that explores traditional women’s costumes across the country. More than an archive of garments, it is a study of how clothing embodies identity, memory, and continuity within Greek society.
The work highlights the coexistence of simplicity and splendour, situating costumes within their natural and cultural environments and connecting them to the social, historical, and economic context of each community. Architecture, landscapes, and everyday life frame the portraits, where the protagonists are always the people themselves. Pappas captures how garments preserved as heirlooms are still worn during festivals and customary occasions, showing tradition not as static but as a living process passed between generations.
By linking folk art with contemporary expression, Mitos presents costume as more than clothing: it is a thread that binds individuals to their roots, networks, and struggles, while also celebrating the enduring beauty of Greek popular culture.