Photographs from the Field (Unexpected Encounters: Roadside Shrines in Greece)

Lecture & Photo Exhibition opening by Dr. Henk Stam, “Photographs from the Field” & “Unexpected Encounters: Roadside Shrines in Greece” - 11 June 2026 The exhibition Unexpected Encounters: Roadside Shrines in Greece features Dr. Henk Stam’s photographs of Greek roadside shrines, especially in Crete. These shrines, known as kandylakia (or eikonistaseis), mark deaths, survival from accidents, or nearby religious sites, blending personal grief with shared communal memory. It shows how this tradition connects ancient ritual, Greek Orthodoxy, folk art, and vernacular architecture in a living cultural practice. Photography can do more than observe, which is why this exhibition frames the photographic work as a celebration of tangible craft and human history, positioned against the growing dominance of artificial intelligence. Katerina Pizania, PhD, Exhibition Curator