Weekend Passport: Hellenic Museum Explores Refugee Crisis

“Lives Afloat” on display at the National Hellenic Museum
"Lives Afloat" on display at the National Hellenic Museum Courtesy / National Hellenic Museum
“Lives Afloat” on display at the National Hellenic Museum
"Lives Afloat" on display at the National Hellenic Museum Courtesy / National Hellenic Museum

Weekend Passport: Hellenic Museum Explores Refugee Crisis

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International Migrant Day is Tuesday, December 18th. Chicago’s National Hellenic Museum teamed up with Greek photographer Tasos Markou from 2015-2017 to photograph the lives of refugees who ended up in Greek island camps. The resulting exhibit is called “Lives Afloat”. It runs through spring 2019. Markou wanted to avoid the disastrous images of detritus washed up on shore. Instead, he favored displaying human resilience over tragedy. Years of an austerity regime from the European Central Bank, has forced Greece to struggle, more so than other countries, to manage the inflow of African and Middle Eastern refugees. To discuss the exhibit, we’re joined National Hellenic Museum President, Laura Calamos. As always, Nari Safavi will tell you how to have an international good time on the weekend.