Natasha Blatsiou: unwritten land

“unwritten land” is a cross-media documentary project that weaves an intimate portrait of the highlands of Agrafa in central Greece and their mountain communities facing the construction of a massive wind farm. The project explores how this mountain range, which has been the center of their culture for centuries, is now being irreversibly transformed. It delves into the degrading environment and the collective struggle against the industrialization of nature, while also examining how different generations relate to their land and how this relationship has evolved over time.

Α multimedia book explores the deep bonds that people share with their land. Landscapes are reinterpreted, and technology is employed to enhance the layers of human history, incorporating war memories, family stories, aspirations, and dreams. The project aims to interweave the visible and the invisible, the physical and the digital, the intimate and the political, while also creating bridges between disconnected narratives concerning the protection of the natural world in the face of climate change and energy crisis, as opposed to so-called development.

“Loss of memory makes for a silent environment in which our struggles have little chance of success, confronted with the cacophony of paid-up media and political lies under military protection” (Silvia Federici, “Re-enchanting the World: Feminism and the Politics of the Commons,” 2018).

Natasha Blatsiou

Is “empty” nature a valuable space or a “waste of space”?

Can we destroy nature for the sake of nature?

Creator's Note

The Onassis AiR program provided me with invaluable research time, bridging the phase of idea development and field research with the final production of a multimedia book as part of my long-term documentary project “unwritten land.” This project delves into the intricate transformation of the Agrafa mountain range (Greece) through the generational ties to their “topos” over time. It explores how these relationships have shaped and been shaped by the landscape, highlighting their collective struggle against the encroachment of industrialization on the natural environment.

The residency period provided me with the opportunity to consolidate the research materials gathered during my extensive travels in the Agrafa region over the past three years. This included delving into historical books, memoirs, paintings, maps, unpublished private archives, and visual recordings. Concurrently, I curated a substantial collection of photographs, oral histories, and personal notes, while developing a prototype of the multimedia narrative. This prototype was presented at the eighth Open Day of Onassis AiR.

Within the space, I created an installation that integrated tactile materials with digital media (sound and visuals). The installation featured fragments of stories narrated by different generations living in the small communities of the Agrafa mountains, alongside memory records and handwritten autobiographical notes about rural life. Together, these elements composed an intergenerational narrative about nature, memory, loneliness and solitude, loss, and an uncertain future, blending internal reflections with external observations. Current news reports detailing plans for the construction of numerous wind power plants were juxtaposed with timeless soundscapes, stones, wildflowers, and herbs. Equipped with iPads serving as audio and subtitle media, visitors could walk the “path” of “unwritten land” or wander freely, selecting stories and soundscapes that resonated with them.

Through this invaluable exhibition process, I had the opportunity to explore various artistic expressions that my work could embody, to affirm the significance of wandering even in its representational form, and also to experiment with storytelling across different mediums. Interacting with the audience offered valuable feedback and facilitated the exploration of potential new collaborations.

The Onassis AiR program provided me with valuable networking opportunities within the fields of book production and emerging technologies. Through organized meetings, I gained insight into technologies relevant to my project, as well as a better understanding of production and distribution costs. Additionally, I had the chance to engage in discussions and get feedback for my work from fellow creators who shared similar visions and concerns.

The residency of Onassis AiR yielded a project that has embarked on a refreshed and more enriched narrative trajectory as it progresses towards production. Equally significant to me as a creator has been the vibrant and close-knit artistic community of Onassis AiR, which I can continually engage with.