Link December 1st 2018
No 123
December
Editor: Marin Kafer Designer: Ivan Doer
#LinkExplore 3
CONTENT Contact About us Youth Center program
5 6 12
DIFFERENT ART Artist from My Country Homeland Venue Most Memorable Moment
14 15 20
THIS IS ART... Anna Khlghatyan
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Carolina De Melo Crista Caroline Gouveia Cintia Marques Daniel Payne Elodie Fremaut June L. Extremiana Marco Piga Marine Kafer Neda Mijovic Niek Den Boer
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ADDITIONAL TOPICS My Sending Organisation My Project Past Events Future Events Interview with a Local Volunteer Interview with EVS Volunteer
EVS, K.A.NE. Who are we?
Three Letters, One Word, an the Most Beautiful Thing in the World Love as an Art Best of Se7en Arts Art Through My Eyes Electronic Music Juggling and Bolas The Aesthetic of Wes Anderson The End of Art! A Bit About Literature... The Power of Music Street Art 44 45 47 49 50 52
K.A.NE. EVS: Alexandra Morin Anna Khlghatyan Carolina de Melo Christa Caroline Gouveia Cintia Marues Daniel Payne Elodie Fremaut Ivan Doer June Laborda Extremiana Marco Piga Marine Kafer Neda Mijovic Niek Den Boer
Staff members of K.A.NE.: Filaretos Vourkos Jelena Scepanovic Nancy Kanellopoulou Nantiana Koutiva Antonia Vrioni Georgia Griva
@kane.kalamata
Who are we
carolina
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elodie
niek
My name is Carolina de Melo Crista. I am 21 years old and i already finish my studies in business communcation. Now, i am doing like a gap year in order to decide what i’ll do after. I love to travel, to meet new people and to see sunsets. Doing sport, watching a good movie or beeing with friends are the best ways to spend my time.
Bonjour ! My name is Elodie. I come from France. I’m social worker educator since 2014. I’m in Kalamata for 6 months. I’m volunteer in a dog shelter and also, in a therapeutic horse-riding. I’ve decided to do this SVE for discover a new country and news cultures, acquire news skills, share my knowledges, to improve my english, meet other volunteers from other countries.
I am Niek, I'm 30 years old. From a small town in the Netherlands called Lunteren. I will be a volunteer for 12 months here, in Kalamata. In my freetime, I like to create, read good book or scientific article (psychology, philosophy, history etc), or watch good art-house movie. Sometimes I like to make photographs.
CAROLINE
marco
june
My friends call me Carol, but my parents like Caroline better. Although I was born in Madeira Island, I always felt my home was the whole Earth. Belonging to a huge, weird and kinda unique miscellaneous family, I grew up surrounded by lots of culturally (and other -lly’s) different people. From African and Latin American roots to my Portuguese hometown, exploring diversity, nature and discover amazing new places have always been great passions of mine!
I’m Marco, 21 years old. I come from a little town in the south of Sardinia, currently living in Kalamata for two months to discover the life around there and learn everything I can from the people in and out the EVS! We’re now 6, all different, in the same house: everyday there’s a new memory to build together. In my free time I like to read scientific articles (mostly about linguistics and geography), enjoy the nature (I love hiking), and try new activities, often in the Youth Center of the city.
My name is June and I´m 23 yrs old. I´m a law graduate and in February I will start my master to be a lawyer in the area of Human Rights and Enviromental Law. Currently I´m living for two months in Kalamata volunteering in the “Re-Think Farm Project”. I was born in Valencia but this last 3 years I´ve been living in Bristol, Paris, Bournemouth and Bolivia. Volunteering and traveling are two of my passions and in my free time I like to read, draw, go to the movies and take pictures with my camera. 7
ivan
daniel
cintia
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Who am I? A human being, or, an evolved animal? It's really hard to give an explanation by using only words. So, I'll prefer to let my actions speak louder than my words. But you know what? I'm Passionate about Life and Nature. I spend a lot of time studying human behavior, what is a sort of a hobby for me. My biggest motivation is to learn from life and make my eyes see wider. I decided to quit my job, so I could catch the opportunity to experience something unique in Greece.
Hello, my name is Dan, I’m 19 years old, and I come from Manchester in the UK. I’ve lived in Manchester all my life and will be living in Kalamata for 2 months helping at the youth centre and the dog shelter. Manchester’s a musical city and that’s one of my biggest interests! I love to spend my free time listening to electronic music, producing it, DJ’ing or playing instruments. I decided to take part in an EVS project when I was in Romania for an Erasmus+ mobility of youth workers course.
Hey! I’m Cíntia, i’m 23 years old and i’m an Occupational Therapist. I’m from Leiria, a city in the centre of Portugal, but i was born in Switzerland, because my parents were immigrants there. I have a sister nine years older than me and a niece with 5 months old. I love animals, i have 2 dogs and 1 cat. Being a scout is a big part of my life, that allows me to travel, have adventurous activities, learn, teach and volunteer in different areas. I also love music and to go to concerts whenever i can.
anna
marine
neda
Barev! I am Anna from Armenia. Honestly, in 28 years of life, this is my first time abroad in Europe. I am going to stay 8 months here in Kalamata and it is a long time for me to discover everything in Greece: live, love, experience new emotions, meet new people, create new stories, explore new streets. This is a great way and opportunity to get to know me, myself, to discover something new in and outside. After this project, I am going to make a short movie or a video about my story, my EVS, my vision, dreams and goals.
Bonjour! My name is Marine, I’m 28 years old and coming from France. After studying Business Administration, working in Marketing and travelling the world, I will now stay in Kalamata for 10 months, working at the office of K.A.NE. I decided to volunteer here to get to know the functioning of an non-profit organisation and to set up my own European Projects! During my free time I like to play volleyball, go diving or read fiction books. This year, you also gonna find me at the German language workshop.
Hi, I’m Neda and I come from Montenegro. Activism has been my passion since high school days so I’m thrilled because of the idea of working at the K.A.NE’s office and help to create more opportunities for young people. Some of my other passions are traveling, dancing and good music and I hope I’ll get the chance to nurture all of them in the following 9 months. Can’t wait to discover the Greek way of life and get to know the country! 9
K.A.NE.
FILARETOS
jelena
NANTIANA
10
Hello, I am Filaretos Vourkos. For the last 15 years I am working in the field of Non-formal education as a volunteer, youth worker and youth trainer. 10 years ago,I decided to create the Youth Centre of Kalamata, in order to initiate youth work in Kalamata and promote active citizenship as factor for change.
Hi, I’m Jelena Scepanovic,an EVS coordinator in K.A.NE. and a volunteer of the Youth center. I came from Montenegro in 2012 as an EVS volunteer. I really liked the idea of the youth center and the work that K.A.NE. does, so I decided to stay and be part of it.
My name is Nantiana Koutiva and i am working in KANE as project manager. I have studied greek philology and I am teacher of greek language as well. I love travelling and organizing festivals.
Nancy
antonia
georgia
Hello World! I’m Nancy and I’m working in K.A.NE since 2017 as a Project Manager and EVS/ESC coordinator. I’m passionate about meeting new people and exchange knowledge, experiences and ideas. I love the fact that many young people visit every year my hometown Kalamata and contribute to our society.
Hello! I’m Antonia and I’m 23 years old. I studied business administration in Athens and now I’ve been working in K.A.NE. as administrative officer. I’m really enthusiastic to be a part of this team and work together so that young people have more opportunities to meet different people and cultures, exchange ideas, travel the world and open their hearts to new adventures!
Hello, my name is Georgia Griva. For the past 5 years I am a youth worker and project manager. This journey in youth field started in 2014 with my first youth exchange and my EVS in Istanbul. I am proud to be member of K.A.NE. which represents my vision and my values as human and as active citizen.
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DIFFERENT ART artist from my country
C�NTIA Because I come from Leiria, I have to talk about a band from this city which is one of my favourites. They are called First Breath After Coma and they are amazing. The thing I like the most about them, either when I’m listening in my car, home or in their concerts, is how their music is an explosion of feelings and sensations. It makes me feel like I stopped in time and I love it.
NIEK For painting, the Dutch contribution has been best known from the work of the individual figures of Vincent van Gogh and Piet Mondrian, though both did their best works outside the Netherlands. In music one of the best known export products are DJs like Tiesto /Armin van Buuren /afrojack. My favorite artists from the Netherlands are Within Temptation, Kensington, Stef bos and Eefje de visser, and these last two are even performing in Dutch.
IVAN Throughout his lifetime, Aivazovsky contributed over 6,000 paintings to the art world, ranging from his early landscapes of the Crimean countryside to the seascapes and coastal scenes for which he is most famous. Aivazovsky was especially effective at developing the play of light in his paintings, sometimes applying layers of color to create a transparent quality, a technique for which they are highly admired. 14
MARCO One of the most famous sculptors of Sardinia was Pinuccio Sciola. He traveled and studied throughout the world, but his creative soul was strongly tied to his birthplace. He was convinced that by carving into rock he was releasing the sounds that for millennia have been trapped inside. In fact he’s mostly famous for “sounding stones”, that he played with a stone stick. You can visit the museum in his hometown Santu Sparau.
JUNE The most famous artist from my country I would say it is Picasso. He is a painter and sculptor from Malaga who participate in different artistic movements like cubism and surrealism. He created around 30,000 pieces of artwork and has been creating until the last day of his life. My favorite artwork of him it is “El Gernika” that you can find in “El Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía” but I also like his sculptures in the Picasso Museum of Paris.
CAROL In Portugal, we have a singer who is famous because his songs have two meanings. The dirty one and the innocent one. All depends how you interpret the lyrics. It’s not the kind of music you listen in your headphones, but in a concert with friends, because all of us think in the dirty way, so, it’s really funny. He is loved by everybody, but mostly, by the youth. He has been singing for over 30 years from career. His name is Quim Barreiros.
ELODIE I come from the north of France. The most famous artist is Dany Boon. He was born in Armentières, very close to Lille (my town). He is a film producer, comedian, screenwriter, actor and film director. The movie “Bienvenue chez les ch’tis” released in 2008 recorded 20 489 303 cinema admissions. Second in box office, just behind Titanic.
CAROLINE Portugal is known as the birthplace of many talented genius and famous figures. If you want to dive deeper in Portuguese culture, starting from Fado is always a great choice. Mariza is my number one Fado singer whose incredible voice is conquering stages worldwide. For those who love poetry and books, Jose Saramago and Fernando Pessoa are a must! Meanwhile, Vhils is colouring the world’s walls and buildings with his amazing graffitis and street art skills.
ANNA Being proud, I would like to say that my country gave a lot of artists for the World. One of them is Charles Aznavour. Unfortunately he passed away this year in October. One of his song was #1 on the 15
UK Singles Chart for four weeks during a 14 week run. Everyone knows this song and you also. So enjoy “She” with amazing lyrics.
NEDA Miodrag Đurić, known as Dado, was an artist from Montenegro who is particularly known as a painter but was also active as an engraver, draftsman, book illustrator and sculptor. He had a long and rich career and managed to create many amazing works of art in every art form he put his mind to. As a result of his unique style and artistic competences, his creative world is highly recognizable and widely acclaimed in the art world. When I look at his creations, I can not believe that his imagination was that far ahead!
MARINE One famous artist from my hometown is Fernand Léger. Mostly famous as a painter, he was also a sculptor, filmmaker, a cartoon creator, an illustrator, a decorator.... In the early XXth century, he created a personal form of cubism which he gradually modified into a more figurative, populist style. Some of his paintings are now hanging in the MoMA in New York.
DANIEL My favourite artist’s’ right now come from my own country, THIRD≡PARTY. They’re a british progressive house DJ duo from Essex, in London, but they now live in Manchester. I first saw them perform at Don’t Let Daddy Know Manchester last year and loved their music so much I’ve seen them twice again, once at Gorilla Bar in Manchester and also in Liverpool at the Olympia for their solo L≡VE show. They released their debut album ‘HOPE’ in 2017 and are currently releasing singles from their upcoming second album. My favourite track from them is “Everyday of my Life”! 16
DIFFERENT ART homeland venue ELODIE My favourite place in France is the “Mont Saint-Michel”, a special town located in Normandy. The history of this place began in 708. I visited this place 8 years ago but I still keep a good memory from it. The town takes its name from the rocky island where the abbey of Mont Saint-Michel stands. A bay surrounds the abbey. This bay is the scene of the largest tides in continental Europe, up to 15 meters difference between low and high seas.
ANNA People who like to fully live, the good, the bad, the crazy. People who enjoy the contemporary art and renaissance of the World greatest writers: this place is for you! The best place in every country, is a place that you leave with emotions: laugh, tears, smile. Because as my friend say “Life is all about emotions”. For me, this place is The Drama State Theatre of Gyumri, Armenia.
IVAN I believe there’s no better place to get alone that isolated wilderness. Taiga is located in the far north typically between the temperate forest biome and the tundra biome. On the globe this is between 50 degrees latitude north and the Arctic Circle. The largest taiga forest covers much of northern Russia and Siberia. A dream place for every painter, huh?
MARCO Google Art & Culture is part of the internet revolution we are living in: it uses high-resolution image technology and enables users to virtually tour partner museums’ galleries, explore physical and contextual information about artworks, and compile their own virtual collection. So long as one has internet access, anyone, anywhere, at any time, can visit this e-venue! "Armchair tourists" 17
are now able to tour some of the world's greatest art exhibits without leaving their seat; professors and students can go on virtual field trips without costs, and even have a remote conversation with an expert from a museum.
JUNE The Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris is my favorite art centre. They have exhibitions about modern and contemporary art that are changing every few months. The building itself it is a piece of art and from the roof you have amazing views of the city. If you are a european student the ticket is free for some of the exhibitions and you also should check the amazing museum shop in the ground floor.
CAROL Porto has a beauty architecture. From the old to the modern town, most of the buildings are really appreciated by the people. One of the famous one is the Clérigos Tower. It is in the heart of the city, and if you climb it, you will get a nice view from the city.
CÍNTIA For those who like to dance freely as if nobody's watching, I have the perfect festival for you. It’s called Ti Milha and it’s in July, in a small village in the center of Portugal called Ilha. It’s a cultural festival in a picnic park, they have music, dance, theater, handicraft and workshops. It’s three days of a lot fun and love, because as we say Ti Milha is love.
CAROLINE Barreirinha Beach Bar, Doca do Cavacas and Beira Calhau are some of the coolest spots in Madeira Island for a beach day, watching sunsets or late night cocktails. You can drink your fresh, delicious Poncha while enjoying sunlight and great live music. Also, Casino da Madeira and Casa das Mudas host many festivals, parties and art exhibitions all over the year. 18
MARINE The Palais Garnier in Paris is an Opera House, named after its architect Charles Garnier, built in the second half of the 19th century. It includes elements from Classicism, Baroque and Renaissance architectures, artfully blended together. As one of the most famous Opera House in the world, the Palais Garnier is a symbol of Paris like the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Louvre or the Eiffel Tour. Designed to host shows of high artistic quality, the building is also a work of art in itself.
NIEK Anarchist Cafe Utrecht is not a beautiful building in looks :D ACU is actually a political-cultural venue in the city center of Utrecht, Netherlands. The name ACU is derived from "Auto Centrale Utrecht" (Car Center Utrecht) and is one of the many signs of its origin as an old squat. Nowadays it is still run by volunteers to keep it an independent and non-profit harbor within Utrecht's nightlife. The ACU hosts a wide range of activities including: concerts, dance nights, political info nights, poetry events, benefits, parties, meeting etc.
NEDA Artificial lake Krupac is a place in Montenegro I really love. One of the reasons is the fact that it is the greatest swimming area in my country’s interior, has a small sandy beach, a couple of beach bars, picnic spots under the poplar trees and pedal boats, jet skis and kayaks for hire. Another reason, and more important one are the memories that link me to this place. The annual Lake Fest rock music festival is held on the shores. Music that I’ve heard and memories I created there, made it one of my favourite venues in the whole world.
DANIEL Piccadilly Train Station, Manchester’s principal railway station. Travel underneath the station between the busiest time of the student calendar, September to New Years Day, and into a former air raid shelter and you will find arguably Manchester’s most famous club night: The Warehouse Project. Established in 2006, The Warehouse Project has welcomed some of the biggest names in music: Carl Cox, De La Soul, Groove Armada, Chic, The Swedish House Mafia and more. If you travel to Manchester for the music scene this is not something to miss, check for tickets around late July to August and be quick! Events sell out fast!
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DIFFERENT ART Most memorable moment ELODIE Every year in september, three of my friends and I join and camp in a festival called “La fête de l’Humanité”, which is the French Communist Party's annual festival. It is held near to Paris during three days. The program is: musics (60 concerts), politics, culinary specialities of the world and big book village. Famous singers come to perform and it attracts more than 800,000 visitors every year...It’s a very big event in Paris. We love it!!
NIEK For me this was the psy-fi summer festival; A shamanic experience where you feel out of this world surrounded by music, street art and dance. The key ingredient was harmony, trust and the belief that there is a family with thousands of people. Time is everywhere, but there is no clock, so there is time to be creative in the way you want to express yourself. But it’s always the people that make an event memorable.
CAROL I’ve participated, as a volunteer in the famous pop festival Comic Con Portugal. It was interesting and funny to see all the people dressed up and acting like the characters.
CÍNTIA I love concerts and it’s really hard to choose one, but I would say that the most memorable event was the second time I watched Alter Bridge live. They are one of my favourites band and I had bought a Meet and Greet ticket, so during the afternoon I was able to watch the rehearsal and take a photo with them, I was in panic. And then I got in the front line and the concert was amazing. 20
JUNE My most memorable event is when I saw Arctic Monkeys in my city. They came to a festival organised in Valencia called “MTV Winter� and it was for free so we had to queue to be able to get a place. I queue with my friends since 10 am in the morning and we got the third row. It was an amazing night because they are my favorite band!
ANNA 4 weeks, 26 days, 15 hours every day, 20 smart and talented students together with two siberian workshop leaders and 2 crazy assistants worked on the streets of Gyumri while making a movie. We were shooting in more than 50 places, meeting with different people from different backgrounds. Then came the editing part. Our students worked for 8 hours a day. They were cutting and editing, finding the right scenes, adjusting the right sounds. On February 23rd in 2018 we made it to the big screening. " I am Gyumri" the most emotional movie made by young students so far. This about love: love for humanity, profession, hobby, and most important, city. This was my best memorable event in 2018 yet.
MARINE Last year I was at the Blazing Swan festival, which is the australian version of the Burning Man. More than a music festival, it is an experiment in temporary community and artistic expression, and is guided by main principles, including radical inclusion, gifting and radical self-reliance. The festival takes place in dry bushland for 4 days. Each year a swan-shaped wooden effigy is built and burned at the culmination of the event. 21
DANIEL My most memorable event was when I went to see my favourite DJ’s, Third≡Party, perform for the second time. They hosted their own label showcase for their music label ‘Release’ at Gorilla Bar in Manchester, supporting were Corey James and Pete K. It was a crazy weekend as I went to see Oliver Heldens the night before and then this the day after! It was an intimate show with a great atmosphere the whole night, I even got to meet them afterwards! My favourite moment was when they played “Opus” by Eric Prydz and the whole venue did a “sit-down”!
CAROLINE Amazing moments always turn into great memories. This summer, during a trip to the United States, I had the chance to watch The Color Purple, a Tony winner Broadway musical which approaches women empowerment and human rights in a really cool and modern way. Also, I could enjoy a live outdoor bluegrass music festival, listen to Steep Canyon Rangers while trying some tasty american countryside snacks and dishes. Epic!
NEDA
One of my most memorable events so far was the concert of American rock band Pearl Jam, last summer in Padova, Italy. I grew up with the music of this band and have always wanted to hear them play live. The only problem was that they were not touring in Europe at all! Until last summer. Of course I bought the tickets immediately after the release and started counting down the days to concert. And of course the concert was amazing!
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Art THREE LETTERS one word ... and the most beautiful thing in the world Three letters, one word and the most beautiful thing in the World, in and out from the Universe. That is "Art"! It is all about passion, colours, creation, views from nature, people you are dealing with, trips, roads, places, streets. It is in the air. I am not sure if I am a crazy about Art, but I love seeing every small, amazing things in every stuff. For me Art is everywhere. Art is present in every corner and area, we can catch it in distance, see it from different sides and even if we don’t, we can imagine it… Art is there and here, spreaded all around the space we can and can not see. Just imagine… Purple flowers with an amazing orange vase in front of green windows - ohhhh colours - piece of Art. The turquoise sea with white boats, amazing castles and churches - ohhhh views - piece of Art. The old woman and the old man holding hands while going down the streets - take a picture - It is Art, isn’t it?
We are creation of Art and we are creating the new ones. The one smile like “Mona Lisa’s”, the one “born like Venera’s”, the one “dance like Dega’s", the one “kiss like Klimt’s”, the one “blind lovers like Magritte’s”….and all these things we could see in the street or other location, it is Art. I am not afraid of saying that Art is one of the biggest motivations in the World, one of the strongest feelings we are experiencing. Without this we can’t live, love, feel. It is like culture, history of the country. If I still have Art feelings, I am alive.
ANNA KHLGHATYAN 24
Art love as an art For so many people, art is just how to create artistic stuff, such as a sing, a dance, a drawing, a representation, a painting etc. Art is always seen like something that an artist does, to engender some feelings in the public. Creating connections, this is the point in all of types of art. If you want to be a painter, it helps to learn different theories and techniques, as well as the history of different styles of art. But at the end of the day, if you really want to be a painter: you have to practice creating art of your own. But should just the artistic works be considered as an art? What about love? Do you think love can be considered as an art? Actually, love works in a similar way than painting. You can learn all about it, but the only way to really get good at it, is to turn it into a daily practice. And like all art, that will take focus, time, effort, and learning as you go. So, in this perspective, love can be seen like an art. Like in a normal art, Love isn’t just a passive thing that happens to you – something that you “fall into” helplessly – but more an activity that you must deliberately practice to become a master at. This is the point: practice. You can do differents things to express that you love someone (your mother, a brother, a boyfriend, a friend...). However if you create a connection, if you exchange feelings; if you feel that you are giving or if you are receiving, this is the art of loving. And it is not easy to give love; express (though there are many ways); to hold the feelings of someone, to keep the connection. Because it 25
doesn’t matter if you just started dating someone or if you have been married to the same person for over 50 years, Love is an endless art project. “To love another with all of your heart Can be seen as a work of art. You brush, you stroke, you pour, you spill, And upon each action your heart will fill. Hours are spent in an endless gaze That shall remain for all your days. With each addition to the paper, You realize your love will never taper. And in the end you will finally see, That all of your mistakes were meant to be.”
..DDCAROL DE MELO CRISTA
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Art best of se7en arts Art is something that makes us breath with a different kind of happiness shows up in different colours, shapes, flavours, perfumes, names, places, feelings • immense ocean of secrets, unveiled by those who observe each other, each wave, each drop, each creature • the reflection of a dream, a product of imagination, a combination of little pieces of memory and hidden emotions, wishes • state of mind, expression of both heart and soul • child of eternity and creativity, given birth by the alliance between time and space: happened somewhere, sometime, but is simultaneously timeless and dynamic • (im)perfection of human body • expression of freedom, love, justice, everything you can(not) imagine • shouts out on walls, buildings and stamped floors in streets • embraces distinct scenarios from city clean lines, green forest landscapes to cotton ball shaped clouds and sunsets dust of gold and lavender • every moment we live, each person we meet, every place we visit • first morning sunlight • the beauty we are surrounded by which claims for our attention in every detail • feeling of comfort and escape, way to find peace out of chaos and disturbia • also referred as poetry, music, theatre, literature, cinema, sculpture, painting, architecture, photography, so on.
LITERATURE On top of my personal list is the art of the word. Poems and short stories are my two top genres to read and to write. Fernando Pessoa, José Saramago and Sophia de Mello Breyner are some of my favourite portuguese authors ever. The Little Prince by Antoine Saint Exupery is by far my first book choice and best recommendation!
MUSIC From the peaceful sound of waterfalls to british hard rock bands, music is everything! Going back in time, 60’s to 80’s are, in my opinion, the most precious decades of musical world. The Rolling Stones, Queen and AC/DC are my top three bands. Also, voices as Madonna, Tina Turner, David Bowie and Bon Jovi’s can never be forgotten. Timeless.
PAINTING Colourful and vibrant palettes always catch my eye and wake up something inside me. Vincent Van Gogh’s artwork is nourriture to my soul. In love with the dutch artist’s paintings, “Sunflowers” (1887) and “Starry Night” (1889) are my favourite masterpieces.
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CINEMA Lights, camera, action! Comedies, drama and action films are always nice choices. From the classic Titanic to Mamma Mia or Fast & Furious, there are plenty of awesome movies to watch. Jason Statham, Mark Wahlberg, Leonardo diCaprio and Sandra Bullock, would be part of my ideal Hollywood film cast.
PERFORMING Magic happens on stage! Theatre and dance are two of my biggest passions. As an amateur actress (and star on the making lol), I would definitely recommend you to watch shows as West Side Story and The Color Purple. Dance is the body language and to me nothing feels any better as to dance till our feet hurt while listening to reggaeton all night. Latin music and dances make you feel you own it.
ARCHITECTURE One of the best advantages of traveling is that we are able to see and to explore many places with different aesthetic lines. Eiffel Tower, Statue of Liberty and Brandenburg Gate are three of the most beautiful art buildings I have ever visited. Always had a special interest in religious and war buildings since, in my perspective, they express the deepest emotions and historic episodes. Plus, Taj Mahal and Machu Picchu are on the wish-list!
SCULPTURE There is no better sculpting work than the human body. All different and all unique, we all have distinct shapes and volumes. Its dynamism shows up in continuous changes and adopts multiple traits over time. Our flaws, curves and lines are a piece of art and deserve highlighted spots in any gallery or museum.
CAROLINE GOUVEIA 28
Art Art through my eyes The thing I love the most about art is the fact that art is free. Each person can appreciate art on it’s own way and the same piece of art can have multiple meanings. The way each of us interprets art is influenced by our story, our personality, our memories, our values, our dreams, our humor, our wishes… For me art is an expression of emotions, ideals, thoughts… Art is a storyteller in many different ways. For me music is the kind of art that I love the most, there’s so many different melodies and rhythms. Music for every kind of event, for every hour of the day, for every kind of humor, for every moment. Sometimes it’s comfortable like a warm hug, sometimes it makes me think, sometimes it helps me concentrate, sometimes it’s my shelter, sometimes makes me get up and dance, sometimes makes me remember other people and moments… I love how music makes me feel, sometimes so much at the same time and leaves me breathless. Music feels like home! I also really love cinema; drama and biography are my favourite genres. I love when a movie makes me travel in time or when it talks about something which is controversial or different. I love a movie that makes me think, think about the world, think about the people, think about my actions, think about the society. I love it when a movie makes me feel the pain of the characters. And I love when a movie tells a good story and I can learn something from it. Something that I also appreciate is photography. To me the saying of a picture is worth a thousand words. When I see a photographic exhibition, I can connect a photo with a story, a culture, a tradition… or try to imagine them. I find it really interesting when photos reflects moments and emotions. Another kind of art that I really like is musical theater, I feel like it’s an explosion of different ways of 29
expression. There’s theater, music and dance, the whole performance is amazing. And I also really like poetry, I think it’s a beautiful way of using the words. I like how melodic sounds and the feeling we put into it when we read it. It’s like writing with metaphors and that few words are enough to say what one means. So now that I talked about the art I like, I think it’s time for me to tell you where I go to appreciate it. As you may know music is something we can found everywhere and that we can carry around, but it is really good when we can listen to it live. I really love going to concerts, so that’s something I often do. Sometimes I need to go to Lisbon to see a band or an artist live and my favorite place to go is “Coliseu de Lisboa”. To see a show of musical theater I usually go to “Casino da Figueira da Foz”, it’s a really beautiful and pleasant place. But I don’t always need to drive to another city to appreciate art. In Leiria, where I’m from, there are great places that promote cultural activities. One of my favourites is “Atlas Hostel”. Apart from being a hostel, there is also a bar and every month they have concerts of either an artist from Portugal or other countries, they always have a photographic exhibition and they organize other different events. For concerts, shows, theaters and dance there’s also the theater “José Lúcio da Silva”. For cinema, my favorite place in town is the theater “Miguel Franco” because they have independent movies, that we cannot see in the regular cinemas. And they also have the HADOC festival, which is the documentary film festival of Leiria and it’s really good. Besides this theater, in a small village near Leiria, called Ilha, there’s an event called Mov’Ilha. This event happens almost every month, there are short-film projections, after a guest comes to talk about his/her work and then there is a moment for questions and a dialogue with the public. And last but not least, I would like to talk about a festival that happens in june in Leiria: “Festival A Porta”. This is a cultural event that promotes art and its involvement with the people. The festival provides several concerts, exhibitions of documentaries and short films, workshops, artistic exhibitions, outdoor activities and gastronomy. It’s amazing!
CINTIA MARQUES
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Art the aesthetic ... of Wes
Anderson
Wes Anderson is one my favorite artists and it is my favorite film director. What I most like about him is that he has a particular style and once that you watch one of his movies you recognise the rest of them. He has a cinematic language and style so developed that all his movies have his signature. So, in a way, for me, the Wes Anderson movies are itself a genre of cinema. He was sometimes criticized for putting before the style than the own story and that all of his movies look the same, to which he replies “I want to try not to repeat myself. But apparently I do it continuously in my films. It is not something that I strive to do. I just want to make films that are personal, but interesting for an audience. I feel that I receive criticism for placing the style on top of the substance, and for the details that get in the way of the characters. But every decision I make is the way to bring those characters forward. " In this article I want to express why I love so much his work and the elements that make that all his movies have a characteristic style. 1. MICROWORLDS The production design makes us feel like each of his movies is a little world. The amount of details in the costumes, the objects or the landscape, make each film really unique. In the following picture we can see some of the objects used in his movies. He achieves that with the so called “material synecdoche� technique. That means he uses objects, pieces of clothes and locations that define personalities, relations or conflicts. We can 31
see many examples of this in The Royal Tenenbaums. Each of the siblings of the family has a different personality, defined by their clothes and their rooms. Also it is really recurrent that a lot of the characters wear the same clothes (basically uniforms), giving again this microworld sensation. 2. COLOUR PALETTE One of my favorite elements in Wes Anderson movies is the colour. Each colour of each detail has been taken care of and the result is aesthetically really pleasant. The colours he uses are usually one or two shades different from the real colours, and they are usually pastel colours. In this way, the image looks flat like a book illustration. Each film has his own chromatic language that contributes to create the microworlds that we have been talking about. 3. SYMMETRY IN THE SHOTS The symmetry in the shots is another of his trademarks. In my opinion it is something really difficult to achieve and he has to take care of every shot. Each shot looks like a painting or a postcard with this technique. Everything is so perfect placed and symmetric that again, it gives an aesthetic pleasure. 4. 60 AND 70’S SOUNDTRACK The soundtrack of his movies really match with the vintage vibes of his characters and locations. Here it is a list of the 10 best songs in Wes Anderson movies: -The Ramones, ‘Judy Is A Punk’ -Love, ‘Alone Again Or’ -David Bowie, ‘Ziggy Stardust’ -Van Morrison, ‘Everyone’ -The Creation, ‘Making Time’ -The Rolling Stones, ‘2000 Man’ -Faces, ‘Ooh La La’ -Iggy and the Stooges, ‘Search and Destroy’ -Françoise Hardy, ‘Le Temps De L’Amour’ -David Bowie, ‘Life on Mars’ The song number 9 corresponds of one of my favorite moments of Wes Anderson movies. It is when Suzy and Sam in “Moonrise Kingdom” are dancing at the beach when they are completely alone. It is a really cute moment and it well represents their relationship. 5. RECURRENT CAST Although a lot of directors also use the same cast, in the Wes Anderson movies it reinforces this
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microworld-universe that he creates. Some of the actors and actresses that appear frequently in his movies are Luke Wilson, Owen Wilson, Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, Anjelica Houston, Willen Dafoe, Frances McDorman or Adrien Brody. 6. CHAPTER STRUCTURE The movies have also a chapter structure as if we were reading a book. In fact, some of the
movies start with someone opening a book. I really like this feature because it is a really clear structure of the movie where you do not have to guess in which moment is the action because it is already explained. So I really recommend you to watch all the Wes Anderson movies! My favorite ones are Moonrise Kingdom and Isle of Dogs. I really think if you like one of them you will probably like all of them.
JUNE LABORDA EXTREMIANA 33
Art the end of art! Brainstorming about art, I cannot help thinking about the Babel Library. I want to stretch and stress the concept of art to see how far can it go, and if humans will be able to see a world without it, and if that world would be better or worse. Art expresses our thoughts, emotions, intuitions and desires, but it is even more personal than that: it’s about sharing the way we experience the world, which for many is an extension of personality. Beauty is whatever aspect of that or anything else that makes an individual feel positive or grateful. Beauty alone is not art, but art can be made of, or for beautiful things. Art doesn’t need to produce beautiful objects or events, since a great piece of art could validly arouse different emotions also terror, anxiety, or laughter. But what if we could have the artworks already made, without a process, an artist, a need? The Babel Library concept basically solves this problem: we have a limited amount of letters and typographic symbols, so in a predefined number of characters, we can try all the different possibilities, and have all the possible phrases, and then all the possible books, so on also all the knowledge, because we will have not only the books we know, but every book that can exist, from every period, and of course also from the future. With a library like this (and actually scientists are creating a digital online version of it), we can be aware also of all the possible artworks, without the need of a creator. The problem, anyway, is related to the big number of possible combinations: it’s needed either a gigantic number of humans, or a super performing computer, both luck-blessed, but let’s think one day we will be able to mine into this raw knowledge and find what’s meaningful for us, not just nonsense letter combinations. Anyway, I feel that if we try to look for meanings into a sea of random knowledge, and that’s the Babel Library, it’s the same as traditional art, as humans try to give a meaning to our world, and it is random, too. 34
So, “Babel art” is just finding patterns of forms we know make us feeling something, but also the majority of traditional art is just copying archetypes, e.g. when an impressionist painter draws a portrait in a certain way, it’s just because they know that this particular technic works to convey feelings. Therefore, we can “mine” kinds of art we know they work, but thanks to scientific progress, we’ll be able to find also new archetypes, as we’ll understand better our psyche and find out all emotional-generating forms of art. I think traditional art will be obsolete, because, for example, you will just need a search key to mine or generate the precise song you’ll need to listen to, exactly in that moment, and this song will be different from every other song, because it will be tailored for you, and everyone else will just have their personal art, the perfect one.
At this moment, I think, nothing could ever be art again, but everything will be just a consumer product.
MARCO PIGA
35
Art a bit about literature... The type of art that I enjoy the most is the Literature. To me, it is the most comprehensive, extensive and the most understandable one.
Comprehensive and extensive because of the formal; it encompasses very different types of literary genres and several forms of expression. I love the diversity in form, length, style, level of language etc. This covers a lot of things: from the mystery novel, to the economical essay, to the autobiography and to the historical saga. Understandable because of the substantive. It is often said that one image reveals more than a thousand words. Admittedly, but to develop a more complex topic, words can express better than the visual. How to describe a feeling or a concept in a picture? Compared to the art of painting for instance, literature maybe leaves less scope for free interpretation, but it allows the viewer (here the reader) to better enter into the work by making it more attainable. As a rational person, I need to understand the artist’s intent when I look at a piece of art, and I won’t appreciate it if the purpose of the artist is inaccessible to me. 36
I first started liking reading with the Harry Potter saga when I was in primary school. I then extended my personal library to other literary genres, other authors, other styles. I will enjoy a book if it teaches me something, if it entertains me, if it has a real purpose, if it denounces something, or if it makes me think. The best books often combine all of the above. I’m going to present you three of my favorite authors, with very different styles. KEN FOLLETT Worldwide know for The Pillars of the Earth. I discovered him with The third twin, which is not his best book to be honest, then Hornet Flight, Jackdaws, and the trilogy of The Century (Fall of Giants / Winter of the World / Edge of Eternity), which is amazing! Ken Follett is a Welsh author of thrillers and historical novels, one of the best-selling author nowadays.
VIRGINIE DESPENTES Or when Balzac meets punk rock. Virginie Despentes is usually considered as the punk writer of the french literature scene. She often depicts in a very raw way with caustic humour ordinary character of her age. Her stories take place in the presentday France and are rooted in the real life, written in a spoken language. The result is a universe to which everyone can relate and in which he can see himself. I really recommend you her last trilogy Vernon Subutex, which is a remarkable portrait of contemporary society.
HARLAN COBEN A brilliant author of mystery novels. He masters crime puzzles with suspense and an offbeat sense of humour. In each of his books, it is neither too heavy or too light, it has just enough tension to hold the reader’s attention until the end. I recommend Tell no one, recently adapted as a movie.
MARINE KAFER
37
Art Music
the power of
Has it ever crossed your mind how odd it is to see the whole mankind - billions of people, listening to meaningless tonal patterns, playing with it, experimenting, never getting bored with it, and calling it by one common name - music. Nowadays, we are surrounded by music constantly, that we even stopped paying attention. I am sure that all of us have experienced that annoying mental replaying of random songs or tunes to which we were exposed to, most of the time maybe even without listening to them consciously. It affects us in our daily lives, unconsciously. Do you have any idea what can the music that you listen to consciously bring to you? How dramatic its effects can be? One of the most picturesque examples of music power is the induction of trance states, which you probably associate with tribes and rituals around fire. Well, you are only partially correct. Ethnomusicologists from all over the world have described similar behavior in almost every culture. Trance — a half-conscious state characterized by an absence of response to external stimuli, typically as induced by hypnosis or entered by a medium, in this case, music, followed by ecstatic singing and dancing, wild movements and cries, or complete immobility — involves not only body, but the complete mind, and has deep psychological and emotional effects, usually culminating in altered states of consciousness. If you think about it for a second, you will realize that a whole genre of modern dance music called ‘trance’ exists, with an aim to achieve similar effects, and suddenly, sentences above start to get a bit more sense. We can see the overwhelming power of music on large musical events, concerts, where thousands of people look like they have been taken over by the same tune and move as one. They even usually turn out to have similar values. Is it because of the music, or just a coincidence? We turn to music, we need it, because of its ability to move us, to induce feelings and moods, states of mind. But music can also be profoundly evocative, have deep resonances, without being familiar, and without calling up specific memories. As the legendary singer Aretha Franklin once said: “Music does a lot of things for a lot of people. It’s transporting, for sure. It can take you right back, years back, to the very moment certain things happened in your life. It’s uplifting, it’s encouraging, it’s strengthening.”
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All of us have had the experience of being transported by the sheer beauty of music — suddenly finding ourselves in tears, not knowing whether they are of joy or sadness, suddenly feeling a sense of the sublime, or a great stillness within. Our auditory systems, our nervous systems, are tuned for music. Perhaps we are a musical species no less than a linguistic one.
NEDA MIJOVIC 39
Art ELECTRONIC MUSIC The type of art I want to talk about is of course, music! Specifically I want to talk about the type of music I like most and why: electronic music. There are many different genres of electronic music and I always find arguments between people of which music fits into which genre. But for me I don’t care which genre a piece of music is from: if it’s produced well, it makes people feel something, resonates with or lifts their mood, or even dance, it’s good music to me! For me it’s mostly about melodies, it’s the part of a electronic music track that creates the most emotion and is what I’m drawn to most. The most fundamental genre of electronic music is house music, the 4/4 beat, it can be found everywhere even in most pop songs today. House music originated in Chicago, developing from disco music and bringing a new sound to the underground dance club culture in the city. A bass (kick) drum plays on every beat of the track, it provides a ‘stomping’ rhythm which people can easily dance to, this lays the foundation for every house music track. The groove which gives each track its individuality is then created from the rest of the drum kit: snares drums, hi-hats and cymbals. In house music nowadays the bassline also plays a key component in the groove, often synthesized using different virtual instruments. As technology expanded, so did house music, multiple new genres formed from the technology of the times: eg. Acid House. Nowadays there are multiple genres of house music: deep house, tech house, future house, electro house, big room house, and my favourite progressive house. I love progressive house music the most as it takes the rhythm of house music, but adds melodies and chord progressions which become the main focus of the track. There are trance-like, heavily synthesized breakdowns which can make people cry, delicate harmonies which can tickle the emotions, and choruses which can make you jump till you can’t possible anymore. It adds a lot more emotion to house music and makes it much more appealing to me. It’s my favourite genre of music and listening to it is what inspired me to learn the piano, guitar, to DJ and even to create my own music. I always have the best time when this type of music is played at clubs and I think I will be listening to it for my whole life!
DANIEL PAYNE 40
Art juggling and bolas For more than 4000 years, men and women practice juggling all over the world. Considered like a hobby since antiquity, it becomes a source of shows in occident and in China from 200 B.C. In Japan, in the Tsonga islands, in Asia and for the Aztecs, juggling is a ceremony to celebrate the world and the gods. We juggle with objects that represent the sun, the eyes of the dead or symbolize health and prosperity. From the 18th century with the invention of the circus, jugglers specialize, become jugglers of strength, comic or gentleman and their art develops greatly. It’s the golden age of juggling. Juggling is currently booming all over the world. Whether in circus, schools, on the internet or in sports clubs anyone can now easily learn to juggle. I learned juggling when I was 17 years old. During the summer, I went to a youth center where we did a lot of activities. The youth worker showed us how to juggle in broad daylight and in the dark with phosphorescent balls. When we had time (until the cinema opened or just after eating), we all learned juggling together. We even built our own juggling balls. I was able to learn juggling within three weeks. It requires perseverance! The word “poï” is a type of juggling and comes from poï-toa, a small mass at the end of a string used by Maori people in New Zealand. To name a poï, we also use the word “bola” = ball in spanish. In Argentina, bolas were used to capture livestock. I learned this type of juggling when I was at the youth center. I learned it during three weeks too. We made our own bolas. There are also bolas with inflamed ends. It’s impressive and pretty to watch especially at night. I would like to learn to practice bolas in the dark.
ELODIE FREMAUT 41
Art STREET ART Art is the topic so I want to share some of the street art I saw around. I made some photos walking in Thessaloniki at the beginning of November. It made me happy to see that the streets of this place are plastered with this jewels.
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NIEK DEN BOER
43
Art my sending organisation When I decided to apply for this EVS I had no idea what to do or how this thing happens, because it’s the first time I’m doing Erasmus+. So my first contact was with my sending organization, called “Associação Mais Cidadania”. This is a non-profit European NGO created in 2003, in Lisbon. As a mission they want to promote citizenship through partnerships at local and international level, educate young people and adults to share skills and abilities at the service of society and to contribute to the responsible and active involvement of citizens in civil society. Shortly, they try to build solutions to the challenges of today's societies. As a vision, “Associação Mais Cidadania” aims to accompany young people and adults in their life projects through training, non-formal education and multicultural promotion. The organization has a lot of different projects, either locally or internationally, such as: • Youth centers • Sessions on European mobilities and active participation • European Voluntary Services • Youth exchanges • Events and trainings on Citizenship and Youth • Intercultural and Intergenerational Dialogue • Internships at home and abroad • Trade fairs (clothes, accessories ...) • Cultural events • Local Volunteering Since 2007 “Associação Mais Cidadania” has been working in partnership with other European organizations in order to write projects, participate in events and through them receive or send young people and adults in programs whose duration and whose purposes vary greatly.
CINTIA MARQUES 44
Art MY PROJECT "Re-Think" The project I am working for in my short-term EVS is called RE-Think and basically the concept is the idea of a Community Garden. The location of my project is the Farm of the family Fifa managed by Mirto and Kostas. I volunteer there helping them with the different activities that they develop. There are different areas in this project, the first one is the educational. In the educational area the objective is to teach kids about the environment, the nature, recycling, compost etc. The educational area is developed in different ways. One of them is that schools can come to visit the farm and they carry out activities for them. Usually the kids (from 6 years old to 16) arrive and we do a big circle where everyone presents himself, says his favorite vegetable and a funny movement. So the activities are also related with the body and movement. Then they follow different activities where they learn about the seeds and how you can make grow a plant from the seed. They also learn about the compost and how to make compost balls. So, basically, my work in this area consists in prepare all the materials before they come, then when they come take pictures of the activities and help with anything which is necessary and also serving the refreshments. Apart from schools and high schools, students from university 45
studying to be teachers also come to the farm to learn how to do this kind of activities with kids. The educational also takes place every Sunday when the farm has his open day. In this day families can come to spend the afternoon with their kids and also having a coffee and some snacks. During the open Sunday we always do a craft with the kids (like with recycled materials, seeds, leaves ect) and also activities related with the orchard. During this day kids are usually younger so they need help to do the activities and also play in the playground that is set in the farm. My work for open Sunday is to prepare in advance some samples of the crafts, set the buffet for the food and the refreshment and helping the kids with the crafts or take care of them where they are playing. (picture 13) Another part of the project is to interact with the community. The Farm provides the city of Kalamata containers for making compost and also offers workshops about this topic. Another actions that they take is seed exchange, workshops in different topics, gardening and growing vegetables. The last area is that the farm is also a business. That means that you can rent the place to have a party, b-day party for kids or even a wedding! In the b-day parties for kids we usually propose them activities like crafting even though usually they are just playing around. But it is also the aim of the farm to encourage kids to be active and play outdoors. So I think it is a really good place for kids to celebrate their b-days. During the parties my work is also to serve the food and to be sure that the clients have everything they need. I love working at the farm, it is super relaxing and fun. Sometimes I just need to water the plants, take care of the orchard, do crafts, prepare activities but it is also really nice to be with the kids, play with them. I learned a lot of things from my 2 months in the farm and I would like in the future to do more projects like that.
JUNE LABORDA EXTREMIANA
46
Art PA S T E V E N T S
the Intercultural Night
On the 10th November, it was time for the Intercultural Night of 2018 for NGO K.A.NE! The intercultural night is part of every Erasmus+ project, including EVS, and is a time for you to showcase the food, drink and traditions of your country. For this Intercultural Night the participating countries were: United Kingdom, Spain, Croatia, Greece, Romania, Netherlands, Portugal, Armenia, France, Latvia, Germany and Italy. The event took place at Kentro Neon, the youth centre of Kalamata, which is also where I volunteer for some of my EVS project. The night started at 9PM and Filaretos, founder of the youth centre, introduced the event and went round to each table where we introduced our country and what we had brought to showcase. In the intercultural night I presented my own country, the United Kingdom! I’m the only EVS volunteer from the UK right now so had more work to do. I decided to present English Tea and Biscuits as it’s a big part of our tradition in England! Also, I spent most of the afternoon before cooking Cottage Pie, a traditional English Pie made from Beef, Gravy, Vegetables and topped with mash potatoes. The locals seemed to like it, it all went in about an hour! Some people even came up to me and said it was their favourite dish of the night! After we had tasted the food and drink of each country, it was time to showcase the traditional dances of our countries. One by one each country taught us their traditional dances and virtually everyone at the event took part, it was a great atmosphere. The dance which stood out for me the most was definitely the Romanian traditional dance. It was extremely energetic and 47
only two or three people managed to dance til the end of the song, it was that tiring! After the dances we partied listening to the music each of our countries for the rest of the night. For me the Intercultural night was the best part of my EVS experience so far. I’ve taken part in three intercultural nights already, but this was definitely the biggest with the most countries. This was because there was an Erasmus+ training course on forum theatre, organised by NGO K.A.NE, also taking place at the same time, so we had even more countries participating. It was interesting for me to taste the food and drink of countries such as Armenia, as I’ve never seen food from these countries before. In all, it was a great night and was an awesome end to the first full week I had here in Kalamata.
DANIEL PAYNE 48
Art FUTURE EVENTS
between 1st and 15th of December
FIRST AID Whether you need health and safety training for work or want to learn first aid for your everyday life, we have a course for you. Come to the Youth Centre on the 5th December!
CURRICULUM VITAE A good CV is a way to sell your skills, knowledge and experience and let the employer know that you are the right person for the job. These training course materials, in Greek, will help participants create an effective, professional CV that will catch the interest of potential employers and assist them in getting that crucial interview. Come to the Youth Centre on the 12th December!
MARCO PIGA 49
INTERVIEW
Art
with a LOCAL Volunteer
In this issue of LINK magazine, you'll get to know Nora, a local volunteer. CAN YOU TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT YOURSELF FOR THE START? I'm a local volunteer in the Youth Center, where I'm also taking classes. I did my EVS in the Netherlands where I was working with children with special needs. That was an amazing experience, not only because of the work which I enjoyed, but also because of the people I met there, friendships I formed, good time and adventures that I will remember forever. It's been two years since I completed my EVS, and I miss that period very much. CAN YOU SHARE SOME OF MEMORABLE IMPRESSIONS FROM YOUR EVS IN THE NETHERLANDS WITH US? I have a lot of very nice memories, but the biggest impression on me left the experience in the botanical garden called Keunkenhof, which was so colourful and full of flowers I've never seen before. I will remember the visit to Van Gogh museum, as well as Banksy exhibition, where all of his art was exposed. SINCE THIS ISSUE OF LINK MAGAZINE IS ABOUT ART, I THOUGHT WE COULD GET SOME OF YOUR INSIGHTS ON IT AND CONNECT IT TO YOUR EXPERIENCE IN THE NETHERLANDS. Yes, Dutch art is very rich and I learned a lot about the Dutch art, history, and had enough time to explore it. Their art is very dreamy, they are putting a lot of imagination to it, and use a lot of colors. 50
VAN GOGH IS A BIG THING THERE, RIGHT? CAN YOU DRAW A PARALLEL TO GREEK ARTISTS? Art of Van Gogh is very popular in the Netherlands, it's everywhere and they're very proud of it. In Greece we also have some amazing artists, like Doménikos Theotokópoulos, known as El Greco and Nikos Engonopulous, but we have a different relation to it and love to keep it to ourselves in a way. WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER FORMS OF ART? I noticed a lot of differences in Dutch art compared to the Greek one, starting from the architecture. Dutch style of building is so different than what we have here in Greece. Also, I discovered that there is differences in music as well. There, they listen to more techno music and don't have traditional influence in music in general, and that's a big thing here in Greece. They're not much into dances as well, as opposed to us, but they're more into sports. I have learned how to play badminton there. In Greece cooking is kind of art, and we dedicate a lot of attention to it. WHAT ABOUT YOU, PERSONALLY? WHAT ART FORMS DO YOU ENJOY THE MOST? When it comes to my personal favorites, mostly I'm listening to Greek music, rock, entekhno, with classical guitar and violins, rebetiko (alternative), but also international music. I am not too picky about it. I enjoy watching Greek comedies because of the specific humour we have, and it’s very different than american. I have learned latin dances, traditional ones, and love to dance in general. At the moment I am learning how to play guitar, and who knows what will come next. I enjoy art very much. I believe it’s everywhere you look and in every way you express yourself. Yes, there are differences in cultures, but it carries universal message and unites us through appreciation of it.
Interview by NEDA MIJOVIC 51
Art INTERVIEW with an evs
Volunteer
Neda Mijovic, a 23-year-old volunteer, who came in Kalamata for nine month long EVS in Project Assistance field. WHERE DO YOU COME FROM AND WHAT HAVE YOU DONE BEFORE COMING ON EVS? I come from Montenegro, where I finished my bachelor degree and an internship in telecommunications industry. WHERE DID YOU FIRST HEAR ABOUT THE EVS OPPORTUNITIES? I heard about them from a friend who is a youth worker, but didn’t know much about them until this year. WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO DO AN EVS? I think that projects like EVS are an excellent opportunity to gain knowledge and experience, especially if they’re related to something that you’re passionate about. Personally, I believe I can learn a lot in the following 9 months that I’ll spend here and in the same time give contribution to my organization and many more people. WHY DID YOU CHOOSE KALAMATA? Primarily, it was because of the type of project that came here, but after a research about the city, I was just more stable in my decision. 52
HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO APPLY AND COMPLETE THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS? A couple of months in total. WHAT IS YOUR MISSION BY KANE AND IN WHICH FIELD ARE YOU WORKING? I am working as a project assistant in K.A.NE’s office and will be working in development and implementation of European projects in various fields. WHAT WERE YOUR EXPECTATIONS ABOUT THIS ROLE? I expect to enhance many skills I already have, learn a lot about project management and ways of functioning of NGO’s through tasks of different nature. DID YOU ENCOUNTER ANY DIFFICULTY AT THE BEGINNING (LANGUAGE BARRIER, VISA, FINDING AN ACCOMODATION, CULTURE SHOCK…)? I was prepared to face some difficulties in the beginning, but this was a surprisingly pleasant experience since the day one. IS VOLUNTEERING SOMETHING NEW FOR YOU? No, I have been a volunteer for around 10 years already in various fields and in different organizations, ranging from humanitarian ones to student organizations, once I started studying. So I’m quite familiar with the concept. WHAT DO YOU THINK EVS WILL BRING YOU FOR YOUR FUTURE? Besides better chances for employment and job related skills, I hope to form lifelong friendships. WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO YOUNG EUROPEAN INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING? To grab a chance as soon as they can and live through this amazing experience, because time is flying really fast.
Interview by MARINE KAFER 53
Link December 1st 2018
The volunteers responsible for this publication are hosted in Greece in the framework of the European Erasmus+ programme, KA1/youth - European Voluntary Service. This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication [communication] reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.