Students Interviews - Elisavet Efstathiou''Breathe''Project - Interview with Ypatia Kornarou - Moments Collective
- Ypatia Kornarou
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Interview with Ypatia Kornarou
What does the photographic work “Breathe” mean to you?
Our now “unstoppable” everyday life rarely allows us to pause and observe the world around us.The photo series “Breathe” was created to express the human need to escape the noisy routine of daily life, to reconnect with the environment, and to reflect.
Only when we are connected with our surroundings and with ourselves do we experience inner peace. One of the most difficult things w
e are called to manage is our relationship with our own self.
Benjamin Franklin once said: “There are three things extremely hard: steel, a diamond, and to know one's self.”
@Elisavet Efstathiou
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In the Breathe project you speak essentially about pause and its importance. How does the concept of stillness ultimately function within your frame?
A pause does not signify inertia; it implies the time that intervenes before the action begins. Stillness within the frame is decisive, as it serves to express a sense of balance and calm before any change occurs. It is therefore not a simple absence of movement, but a conscious choice.
@Elisavet Efstathiou
You referred to Benjamin Franklin regarding the difficulty of self-knowledge. Do you believe that a photographer, during the process of creating a work, comes face to face with their relationship with themselves?
I believe that the primary thing a photographer confronts during the creation of a work is their own self.Self-knowledge is a continuous and courageous journey that each person is called to undertake alone, in order to discover their true self without the veils that cover it.Understanding one’s emotions, weaknesses, strengths, and values is essential for self-improvement as well as for cultivating higher-quality relationships.
@Elisavet Efstathiou
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What is, for you, the priceless value in the art of photography? Why did you choose to engage with photography?
I believe that the priceless value of photography lies in its ability to create emotions before we even have time to think. By looking at a photograph, we can feel moved, angry, joyful, nostalgic, or even sad — but most importantly, we are prompted to reflect.A powerful photograph hides something more than what it shows, and that is where the dialogue between photographer and viewer begins. Often, while the photographer develops an idea during the creation of the work, the viewer may receive something entirely different.
I chose to engage with photography because, from a young age, I was fascinated by the photographic process and how a single click could preserve time unchanged. As I grew older, I realized that photography is, for me, a medium of expression, using non-verbal communication and the art of observation. At the same time, it also acts as a tool for self-discovery.
@Elisavet Efstathiou
Does the world ultimately need a camera to preserve memories?Or are we, because of technology, experiencing a “laziness of memory”?
I don’t know if the world needs a camera to preserve memories, but as the years go by, I personally do feel that I need it. Photography often functions as a visual diary for me.However, the “laziness of memory” you refer to is indeed a major issue in the era we live in, and technology has certainly not helped with that.I believe that the daily flood of information and images is one of the main factors that weakens the proper functioning of memory.
@Elisavet Efstathiou
What happens when you decide to lift your gaze to see the world? What are you trying to narrate?
Every day we are all constantly rushing to catch up with something, which makes it difficult to lift our gaze and observe the world around us.When that moment finally comes for me, I first connect with myself and then with my surroundings.Through photography, I try to narrate my own perspective of the world.
@Elisavet Efstathiou
Author Ypatia Kornarou-Moments Collective 2025
