Project started april 2024, end date september 2025 "Ikaria is a remote Greek island with around 8,500 inhabitants. Due to the longevity of its inhabitants, it has been recognized as one of five bluezones worldwide. The reasons given for the high proportion of over 90-year-olds in the Ikarian population are usually limited to diet and exercise. However, the Ikarian way of life and society is much more complex. Due to strong winds, Ikaria was not on the major sea trade routes. The islanders were therefore forced to self-organize. As a former exile island, Ikaria regularly accommodated left-wing opposition figures who shared their ideas with the islanders. Ikaria is still governed by the communist party today. In this documentary photo essay, Aristidis Schnelzer sets out in search of traces of this fragile utopia and a part of his own origins." I spend almost two months on Ikaria in Spring 2024. From this time I still have many contacts to interesting people that I want to photograph. I want to set my focus on the social interactions on the island. I intend to use the scholarship money on transportation and accommodation. 5 Goals: • Organize Exhibition on the Island (I’m already in contact with the owner oft he space, he really likes the project) • Collaborate more with my protagonists • Also work with video or audio • Raise awareness for local struggles, build connections to NGOs, raise money • Produce at least 7-10 more strong images, that will be part of the final edit
