The unexpected beauties of the insect world are on display in an exhibition of photographs entitled MikroKosmos (Small World) currently showing at the Polykentro in Voukolies. The images, by Chania photographer Nikos Kampianakis, are exclusively of insects, photographed in close-up and in colour. As a result, these small beings, which if we encountered them at all in the normal course of life would be effectively invisible to our eyes, are seen in all their individuality, caught in an instant as they pursue their customary behaviours. The effect is both aesthetic and uplifting: in his introductory leaflet to the exhibition, co-curator Giannis Markantonakis, quotes a line from the poet Maxmilian Damazio: “Today from that cricket, I learned how to smile”.

The photographs are simply captioned with the vernacular and Latin names of each insect, and with a QR code linking to the relevant Wikipedia page containing scientific information about the species.

Biography

Nikos Kampianakis was born in Chania. He studied mathematics at the University of Patras, and took postgraduate training in information technology. He worked as a programmer in various companies in Athens and since 1992 has lived and worked as a lecturer in information studies in Chania.

He has been engaged in photography for more than 20 years, and has had six one-man and various group exhibitions. From 2012 to 2020, he created photographic teams of secondary school pupils, curating their work in a series of annual exhibitions. He has won prizes in international photographic competitions and has had photographs published in magazines (National Geographic, Digital Camera) and newspapers.

The exhibition runs until 20th December and is open on weekdays from 10.00 to 13.00, on Saturdays from 17.00 to 20.00, and on Sundays from 11.00 to 19.00. Entrance is free.