Paradise Inn

The word “Paradise” literally means walled enclosure or recreational and entertainment area, probably derived from the Persian word Pardes which is attributed to the walled pleasure gardens of the Great King of Persia.

In recent decades, countless of artificial paradises were developed around the world and their number still grows faster than ever before. This industry that manufactures an entertainment product of mass consumption meant to satisfy the average man’s need for recreational time and fun, is called tourism.

The tourist industry has drastically intruded the land, transforming it into a product while causing several effects with a severe socio-cultural character. Destinations are in danger of losing their original appearance, structure and identity, through a standardization process that aims to satisfy the tourists' wishes. What is not understood though, is that this process doesn't degrade only the final product but mostly affects the local societies which have to survive the low periods relying only on the remnants of a seasonal industry. This ongoing photographic project, which started in 2012, aims to highlight the consequences of this massive and uncontrolled tourist development. In Greece, as in Southern Europe in general, these effects are reflected on the constructed landscape mostly through the unregulated and shoddy architecture, the kitsch and folklore decoration, the construction and adoption of artificial elements and entertainment structures, the falsification of identity and cultural heritage, the violation of the natural environment and finally the desolation that occurs after peak season.

Marinos Tsagkarakis (1984) was born and raised in the island of Crete, in Southern Greece. He studied contemporary photography at Stereosis Photography School, in Greece. He is a member of the collective “Depression Era” that inhabits the urban and social landscapes of the economic crisis in his home country. His work has been featured in numerous exhibitions and international festivals.