The City as Palimpsest - 3D ANIMATION

Page 1

THE

CITY

AS

PALIMPSEST

Digital Playgrounds for the online public Msc Design and Digital Media 2016-2017 The University of Edinburgh KIRIAKI PAPATHANASOPOULOU (s1670597)


THE STORYTELLING ATHENS PALIMPSEST

Starting point of this study is my fascination with the rich urban and architectural fabric of dense inner-cities. The aim of this project (a 3d animation video) is to present the city as a complex whole structure which is being transformed over the time. In that way, the city can be recognized as a multilayered text, or PALIMSEST, that has been constantly revised and rewritten from the ancient times till today. A palimpsest is a manuscript from a scroll or a book in which text has been scraped off in order to be reused and written on later. This term has come to be used in several disciplines such us literature, architecture and archaeology. The idea of taking an original text and rewriting on top of it could be comparable to similar actions that take place within any contemporary cityscape. Architects use the palimpsest conception to read the city in historical, inter-textual, constructive and destructive manners. The urban space consists of a set of layers from different periods of time. Through time, these palimpsest of layers coexist together, forming the identity of the society. The same happens, exactly, with the buildings of the city where other considered old and other more modern. However, often ruins of the city are redefined (for instance restoration, graffiti, extension) and converted into active parts of our lives. Thus, a dynamic and continuous changing space is created. In that way, new layers are created. Some old layers are deleted and others remain. Some of them are modified further while others are rewritten through the years. It is, therefore, an interminable and repetitive process of construction. And this process I wanted to demonstrate through my work this semester. My objective was to show that every city consists of a set of fragments from different periods of time and nowadays all these layers (old and new) coexist together, converting the city to a living organism. Therefore, it will be imperative the need of keeping the layers of urban form alive rather than simply effacing and rebuilding, for that keeps a city’s history vivid. No city without a tactile history, without the capacity for citizens and visitors to reach into the past while experiencing the present, can be truly vital. This video can also be a useful tool not only for architects but also for the public to understand the content and the context of the city further in order to get fascinated with the complexity of urban structure. My main field of study is Athens, a city with a rich historical background. A city which incorporates different architectural styles ranging from Ancient ruins, restored Neoclassical buildings, Turkish influences, Polykatoikias (the athenian modern apartment building), Contemporary buildings, human interventions. They are often to be found in the same areas, as Athens is not marked by a uniformity of architectural style. Furthermore, another thing that made me to choose Athens is that looking back to city’s history and especially in 1900s (The beginning of the construction era - Evolution of «Polykatoikia») I realized that citizens, then and now, do not respect the urban space destroying or vandalize past elements. Thus it is necessary to remind them how important is to retain all these fragments alive. My ambition was to create a part of the city (a building block for instance) and through a video show how this neighborhood core is changing over the years (add new elements, keep old elements, delete or change other layers) depending on the needs of the society during the time. After a thorough analysis on the layers that compose the city of Athens and change over the time, I ended up with these versions: • ancient Athens • neoclassical period • nowadays situation • digital era

Initially, thinking of Athens and searching for some references, I did a list of some possible elements that each category has as representative and I would like to show them in the animation, in order to give more detail in my images. Through them I started creating my 3d environment of each period.

Msc Design and Digital Media 2016-2017 • ESALA • The University of Edinburgh

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The video starts with an interior scene of an ancient building (columns, painted walls, arch, dome) which shows the process of palimpsest (manuscript book). The text is rewritten everytime by keeping / deleting the old text or by writing new scripting. Then, by zooming-in to an ancient column we move to Ancient Athens - exterior environment. Columns, Roofs, Metopes, Pediments, Triglyph, soil, paintings, marble statues, defensive walls, trees and mountains (Lycabettus hill) are some of the main characteristics of that period. By scrolling around a main path (which is the same through the main periods), the camera zoom-in to the rooftop. After that, we transport to the next period, the neoclassical, walking around the same path again. In that scroll we can recognize some old elements (from ancient times) which remain the same such as buildings, rooftops, paintings, metopes, trees while others transformed further such as ruined columns/painting/metopes, damaged walls, building construction in Lycabettus hill. Furthermore we can see new layers of the neoclassical times being added. We view the type of building blocks covered with small colorful buildings (especially yellow and pink) and churches. These buildings are usually designed with small balconies (flowers and pots), colorful doors/windows and roof shelters with Metopes (main architectural characteristics of that period). There are also some urban voids or walls (which show that the construction is in progress), letting the air flow in between the buildings. The neoclassical period ended up by zoom-in to a façade of a building which is redefined to the next period (the contemporary situation). Here, we can experience all the layers co-existing together. Ancient ruins, marble statues, old neoclassical buildings, neoclassical ruins, restored buildings, unfinished buildings called ‘’giapi’’, polykatoikias, churches, modern buildings, multimedia facades, graffiti, party walls (mesotoixa), street elements (lighting, urban furnitures), signs and inscriptions, Lycabettus hill, flowers, laid out clothes, waste bins, kiosks, advertisements, antennas. In the end after scrolling around the path the camera move to the Athenian rooftops where we can view the last layer of digital era and information data. Everyone today is connected with Internet, becoming an active user of the social media and technology. A new urban playground is created above the old, the digital playground which in turn is co-existing with the other layers/fragment of the city.

What is more, I wanted to find a particular element that will appear in each part and that will connect and unify all the above parts of the video. Probably, the most impressive element in Athens city nowadays, is the way graffitis, as an art inspiration, co-exist harmoniously with ancient ruins and concrete buildings, creating something entirely new. I chose an existing graffiti of Athens showing a colorful, airy girl hanging a man. That girl will be my main character of the video called Athena. By walking around the periods, she narrates her story, her fragments, her architecture. When she arrives to the contemporary situation by a gradual explosion she becomes a graffiti. A graffiti shows old Athena co-existing (hanging with smile) with an other layer (a colourful man). Furthermore, I tried to link all the scenes together and at the same time make the video more effective by using music. I chose the music of Ioannis Xenakis called Palimpsest. Iannis Xenakis is a Greek composer that trained as an architect, and created works of shattering visceral power that still astound today. His composition called Palimpsest is a sequence of rapid irregular polyrhythms, adding each time layers of instrumental texture. All these co-exist together creating an entirely new dynamic sound. In other words, this composition presents what exactly happens to the urban fabric. Last but not least, I used some text in my animation in order to make the narrative and the time frame of the story more powerful and clear.

WATCH THE VIDEO ΙΝ: https://vimeo.com/216041044 (password: archportfolio)

Msc Design and Digital Media 2016-2017 • ESALA • The University of Edinburgh

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REFERENCES MANUSCRIPT - PALIMPSEST

ATHENS TODAY - PALIMPSEST

Msc Design and Digital Media 2016-2017 • ESALA • The University of Edinburgh

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ANCIENT ATHENS

Msc Design and Digital Media 2016-2017 • ESALA • The University of Edinburgh

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REFERENCES NEOCLASSICAL BUILDINGS

Msc Design and Digital Media 2016-2017 • ESALA • The University of Edinburgh

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MODERN BUILDINGS

Msc Design and Digital Media 2016-2017 • ESALA • The University of Edinburgh

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STORYBOARD PROCESS OF PALIMPSEST

INTERIOR VIEW - MAIN CHARACTER

PROCESS - DELETE, REMAIN

ZOOM IN

PROCESS - ADD, REMAIN

ZOOM IN - BOOK

PROCESS - DIFFERENT DIRECTION

BOOK - START WRITTING

PROCESS END - ZOOM OUT

TEXT - THE PROCESS

ZOOM IN - COLUMN

Msc Design and Digital Media 2016-2017 • ESALA • The University of Edinburgh

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ANCIENT ATHENS

ZOOM IN - COLUMN

ZOOM IN

ZOOM OUT - COLUMN

METOPES, TRIGLYPH, COLUMNS

ATHENIAN ANCIENT BUILDING

ROTATE - CHANGE VIEW

ZOOM OUT

MARBLE STATUES

VIEW OF ATHENS - MAIN CHARACTER

ZOOM IN

Msc Design and Digital Media 2016-2017 • ESALA • The University of Edinburgh

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STORYBOARD ANCIENT ATHENS

DEFENSIVE WALLS

ANCIENT BUILDINGS

ROTATE - CHANGE VIEW

ROTATE - CHANGE VIEW

STROLL - VIEW OF ATHENS

BETWEEN THE COLUMNS

LYCABETTUS HILL

ZOOM IN

TREES, SOIL

ZOOM IN - ROOF

Msc Design and Digital Media 2016-2017 • ESALA • The University of Edinburgh

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NEOCLASSICAL PERIOD WITH ANCIENT RUINS

ZOOM IN - ROOF

ROTATE - CHANGE VIEW

ZOOM OUT - NEOCLASSICAL

ANCIENT RUINS

NEOCLASSICAL PERIOD

STROLL - VIEW OF ATHENS

ZOOM IN - TREES, FLOWERS

ZOOM IN - BALCONIES

ELEMENTS OF ARCHITECTURE

PANORAMIC VIEW

Msc Design and Digital Media 2016-2017 • ESALA • The University of Edinburgh

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STORYBOARD NEOCLASSICAL PERIOD WITH ANCIENT RUINS

ZOOM IN - BUILDING

ROTATE - CHANGE VIEW

ROTATE - CHANGE VIEW

NEOCLASSICAL BUILDINGS

ANCIENT RUINS - CHURCH

CONSTRUCTION OF NEW BUILDING

ZOOM IN - TREES, FLOWERS

ZOOM IN - LYCABETTUS HILL

ANCIENT BUILDINGS

ZOOM IN - BUILDING

Msc Design and Digital Media 2016-2017 • ESALA • The University of Edinburgh

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ATHENS - TODAY

ZOOM OUT - TODAY

URBAN VOID, WASTE

POLYKATOIKIAS, PILOTIS

ZOOM IN - TELEPHONE BOOTH

NEOCLASSICAL BUILDINGS

GRAFFITI, LAID OUT CLOTHES

FACADE - CHANGE COLOUR

ROTATE - CHANGE VIEW

“ MESOTOIXIA” - PARTY WALL

NEOCLASSICAL RUINS

Msc Design and Digital Media 2016-2017 • ESALA • The University of Edinburgh

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STORYBOARD ATHENS - TODAY

STROLL - VIEW OF ATHENS

ANCIENT RUINS VS GRAFFITI

SIGNS, GARBAGES

STROLL - VIEW OF ATHENS

CHARACTER EXPLOSION

ZOOM IN

GRAFFITI CREATION

POLYKATOIKIAS

ATHENS TODAY

SIGNS

Msc Design and Digital Media 2016-2017 • ESALA • The University of Edinburgh

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KIOSKS, ANTENNAS

STROLL - VIEW OF ATHENS

ZOOM IN - GARAGE DOOR

PEDESTRIAN ROAD - FURNITURES

ROTATE - CHANGE VIEW

ANCIENT RUINS

OLD BUILDINGS - ADVERTISEMENT

ZOOM IN

“GIAPI” - UNFINISHED CONSTRUCTION

BUILDING - RENOVATION PROCESS

Msc Design and Digital Media 2016-2017 • ESALA • The University of Edinburgh

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STORYBOARD ATHENS - TODAY

ROTATE - CHANGE VIEW

SIGNS

NEOCLASSICAL RUINS

BUS STOP, ADVERTISEMENT

VIEW OF ATHENS

ZOOM IN - KIOSK

LYCABETTUS HILL

GRAFFITI

LAID OUT CLOTHES

ZOOM IN

Msc Design and Digital Media 2016-2017 • ESALA • The University of Edinburgh

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ATHENS - DIGITAL ERA

ATHENS - PANORAMIC VIEW

NEW LAYER ABOVE THE CITY

CONNECTIONS

END - MAIN CHARACTER

NETWORK

DIGITAL ERA

SOCIAL MEDIA

Msc Design and Digital Media 2016-2017 • ESALA • The University of Edinburgh

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IMAGES - REFERENCES MANUSCRIPT PALIMPSEST (http://www.worldgallery.co.uk/art-print/christies-images-the-archimedes-palimpsest-ff-16v-17r-on-floating-bodies-byzantine-empire-210946) ATHENS ( http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/11/13/street-art-greece_n_6149098.html) ATHENS (http://androniki.photoshelter.com/image/I0000kPI7AM3sTcs) ATHENS (http://www.isupportstreetart.com/artist/alex-vasmoulakis/) ATHENS (http://www.fatcap.com/graffiti/172478-bleeps-gr-athens.html) ATHENS (http://www.blocal-travel.com/street-art/as-seen-on-streets-of-athens-street-art-html/) ATHENS (https://susansoldini.wordpress.com/2011/10/13/athens/) ANCIENT ATHENS ( http://www.ancientathens3d.com/el/klasiki-akropoli/) ANCIENT ATHENS ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJ7dYIi3RI4) ANCIENT ATHENS ( http://www.shafe.co.uk/home/art-history/classical_tradition/classical_tradition_slides_29-10-2003/) ANCIENT ATHENS (http://www.historiamais.com/grecia.htm) ANCIENT ATHENS (http://www.ancientathens3d.com/el/) ANCIENT ATHENS (http://gogreeceyourway.gr/regions-cities/attica/arch-and-library-of-hadrian/) NEOCLASSICAL BUILDINGS (http://www.iefimerida.gr/news/128591/h-%CE%B9%CF%83%CF%84%CE%BF%CF% 81%CE%AF%CE%B1-%CF%84%CE%B7%CF%82-%CF%80%CE%BB%CE%B1%CF%84%CE%B5%CE%AF%CE %B1%CF%82-%CE%BF%CE%BC%CE%BF%CE%BD%CE%BF%CE%AF%CE%B1%CF%82-%CF%80%CF%8E% CF%82-%CE%B1%CF%80%CF%8C-%CF%83%CF%84%CE%BF%CE%BB%CE%AF%CE%B4%CE%B9-%CE%B A%CE%B1%CF%84%CE%AD%CE%BB%CE%B7%CE%BE%CE%B5-%CF%83%CE%B5-%CF%87%CF%8E%CF %81%CE%BF-%CE%B1%CF%80%CE%AD%CF%81%CE%B1%CE%BD%CF%84%CE%BF%CF%85-%CF%84%C F%83%CE%B9%CE%BC%CE%AD%CE%BD%CF%84%CE%BF%CF%85-%CE%B5%CE%B9%CE%BA) NEOCLASSICAL BUILDINGS (http://www.eie.gr/archaeologia/En/chapter_more_9.aspx) NEOCLASSICAL BUILDINGS (http://gr.depositphotos.com/stock-photos/atenas.html) NEOCLASSICAL BUILDINGS (http://www.protothema.gr/city-stories/article/596019/i-diki-tou-athina/) NEOCLASSICAL BUILDINGS (https://www.google.gr/search?sa=G&hl=el&q=church+of+panaghia+kapnikarea&tbm=isch&imgil=OXo16EZVi9DAFM%253A%253B49hOR-U8oM7pbM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fflickrhivemind.net%25252FTags%25252Fchurch%25252Ckapnikarea%25252FInteresting&source=iu&pf=m&tbs=simg:CAESiQEJih9p4dfFFs8afgsQsIynCBpiCmAIAxIo3xTxHe8d8B3RFNcU7h37HdMU-hS8Kt043jicK984vSrAOOUq4ji6KhowAQF6Y5QgoBI8v71pnW8cPKFrPckSPo5WjkpVQoethJdbFdx2KGWe57zbWb7OBgLxIAQMCxCOrv4IGgoKCAgBEgRTHkNpDA&fir=OXo16EZVi9DAFM%253A%252C49hOR-U8oM7pbM%252C_&usg=__ZJFL8B1asSMbr_dz0c_ QfwcE9Os%3D#imgrc=OXo16EZVi9DAFM:) NEOCLASSICAL BUILDINGS (http://antikleidi.com/2012/12/20/athens/) NEOCLASSICAL BUILDINGS (https://www.google.gr/search?sa=G&hl=el&q=%CE%A0%CE%BB%CE%AC%CE%BA%CE%B1&tbm=isch&imgil=jqlbdl6aJfWvsM%253A%253BUnvzx8Jwvp7cUM%253Bhttp%252 53A%25252F%25252Fwww.osk.gr%25252Findex.php%25253Fwork_id%2525253D47&source=iu&pf=m&tbs=simg:CAESnwIJB1H7wDKHlK4akwILELCMpwgaYgpgCAMSKOcKyQrGCowY1Ar7FI0Y5h6VFZQV6TiAKNki3jjGKtwi6ziBKOkqiCgaMPuSjiFnChGG1PcYK4BQF-HbyQyATu_15h48F6xKfsvb0CcyhF0a46ucIrp_1vI-JyKCAEDAsQjq7-CBoKCggIARIE_1eljbgwLEJ3twQkaiwEKGgoIYnVpbGRpbmfapYj2AwoKCC9tLzBjZ2g0ChcKBWhvdXNl2qWI9gMKCggvbS8wM2ptNQoZCgZmYWNhZGXapYj2AwsKCS9tLzAxeDMxNAofCgxhcmNoaXRlY3R1cmXapYj2AwsKCS9tLzAzbmZtcQoYCgZ3aW5kb3fapYj2AwoKCC9tLzBkNHY0DA&fir=jqlbdl6aJfWvsM%253A%252CUnvzx8Jwvp7cUM%252C_&usg=__VOY8orCBePILAGbqcCTLjzMP3G8%3D#imgrc=jqlbdl6aJfWvsM:)

Msc Design and Digital Media 2016-2017 • ESALA • The University of Edinburgh

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NEOCLASSICAL BUILDINGS (https://left.gr/news/agnoeitai-i-tyhi-37-ergon-tehnis-apo-arheio-tis-dimotikis-pinakothikis-tis-athinas) NEOCLASSICAL BUILDINGS (http://www.panoramio.com/photo/53188951) NEOCLASSICAL BUILDINGS (https://www.google.gr/search?sa=G&hl=el&q=%CE%BD%CE%B5%CE%BF%CE%BA%CE%BB%CE%B1%CF%83%CE%B9%CE%BA%CE%B1+%CE%B1%CE%B8%CE% B7%CE%BD%CE%B1%CF%83&tbm=isch&imgil=x69cH0ixpdx33M%253A%253BE6dPWdtqIAqmnM%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.in2life.gr%25252Feveryday%25252Fhowto%25252Farticle%25252F298916%25252Fpos-na-xehorizete-ta-arhitektonika-styl.html&source=iu&pf=m&tbs=simg:CAESuQIJbP6bxIsI-AsarQILEKjU2AQaBAgACAMMCxCwjKcIGl8KXQgDEiWcDYoDbMQKuA1qwwr6AYsDW-M4zyviOeQ46jjQK-Uq4CrKK-s5GjDJvoyKdAnKfV9ufpLKfDtl_1oIQiZWzRBl4SIILN6PzHNP2qTMo6aKVWCtRNSSNqncgBAwLEI6u_1ggaCgoICAESBO7HD18MCxCd7cEJGpsBChoKCGJ1aWxkaW5n2qWI9gMKCggvbS8wY2doNAofCgxhcmNoaXRlY3R1cmXapYj2AwsKCS9tLzAzbmZtcQoZCgZmYWNhZGXapYj2AwsKCS9tLzAxeDMxNAoXCgVob3VzZdqliPYDCgoIL20vMDNqbTUKKAoWY2xhc3NpY2FsIGFyY2hpdGVjdHVyZdqliPYDCgoIL20vMGR2aDkM&fir=x69cH0ixpdx33M%253A%252CE6dPWdtqIAqmnM%252C_&usg=__67HOsao3lSp2G1a4WxjjW9ESpzU%3D#imgrc=x69cH0ixpdx33M:) POLYKATOIKIA (http://www.athensmagazine.gr/athenstalk/170931) POLYKATOIKIA (http://www.lifo.gr/team/athens/49843) POLYKATOIKIA (http://www.press-news.gr/trelo-gelio-i-anakinosi-stin-isodo-tis-polikatikias-pou-saroni-sto-diadiktio/) POLYKATOIKIA (http://www.ethnos.gr/koinonia/arthro/problimatismos_gia_ton_ekriktiko_mixanismo_pou_brethike_ piso_apo_to_astynomiko_tmima_dafnis-65008180/) POLYKATOIKIA (http://polykatoikia2014.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/plural-private-and-public-spaces-of.html) POLYKATOIKIA (http://www.domusweb.it/en/architecture/2012/10/31/from-dom-ino-to-em-polykatoikia-em-.html) POLYKATOIKIA (http://www.athina984.gr/2016/02/19/h-athinaiki-polykatikia-kathreftis-tis-ikonomikis-krisis-erevna-architektonon/) POLYKATOIKIA (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=366000&page=51) POLYKATOIKIA (http://www.ethnos.gr/koinonia/arthro/istories_krisis_stin_athinaiki_polykatoikia-64333338/)

Msc Design and Digital Media 2016-2017 • ESALA • The University of Edinburgh

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BIBLIOGRAPHY Davies, Bronwyn, 1990-1999, A Body of Writing, Oxford: Rowman & Littlefield Galpin, Richard, 1998, Erasure in art: Destruction ; Deconstruction and Palimpsest, http://richardgalpin.co.uk/archive/ erasure.htm (last update: 25-1-2016) Lynch, Kevin, 1960, The Image of the City, Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press Martin, Jamison, 2006, Palimpsest new and old, Ohio State University Libraries Mpouras, Konstantinos, 2009, Athens revisited (part 1), www.greekarchitects.com (last update: 30-1-2016) Rossi, Aldo, 1984, The Architecture of the City, Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press

MUSIC USED IN THE VIDEO Xenakis, Ioannis, 1990, Palimpsest (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1YKCSCXJBo)

MAPS USED IN VIDEO PALIMPSEST (http://www.math.utk.edu/~freire/m400su06/Floating%20Bodies,%20Sand%20Reckoner.pdf) ANCIENT ATHENS (http://greekworldhistory.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/blog-post.html) ANCIENT ATHENS (http://www.technova.gr/technova/index.php/2012-06-21-03-15-38/istoria/2127-parthenon) ANCIENT ATHENS (https://olympia.gr/olympia_art/) ANCIENT ATHENS (http://kikiri-kou.blogspot.com/2014/02/25-25-influential-pieces-of-ancient.html) ATHENS -TODAY (http://www.magicalurbanism.com/archives/4164) ATHENS -TODAY (http://ideametaxas.gr/index.php/samples/traditional-signs) ATHENS -TODAY (https://gr.pinterest.com/threesixtyarch/precedents-media-facade/) ATHENS -TODAY (http://journal.eahn.org/articles/10.5334/ah.ar/) ATHENS -TODAY (https://www.ellines.com/good-news/11935-afieroma-ton-ny-times-gia-ta-gkrafiti-stin-athina/) ATHENS -TODAY (http://www.zougla.gr/politismos/article/i-banksy-tis-a8inas-stous-nyt-gia-tin-kinoniki-anageotita-tougrafiti)

Msc Design and Digital Media 2016-2017 • ESALA • The University of Edinburgh

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