Stefanos Paikos

In Europe, the discussion often focuses on refugees who have already reached the mainland. But what happens before they arrive? Attention typically shifts to them only once they have officially arrived and been granted asylum. This selective perception resembles a game show: only those who reach the final are noticed and rewarded. The others, who drop out earlier, quietly disappear from view—in the reality of fleeing, this often means losing their lives.
In 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic and following the catastrophic fire in the Moria camp, refugee stories barely surfaced in the media. How do these individuals reach Europe? What routes do they take, and what transpires along these paths? These questions lingered. That year, I met Milad Ebrahimi in Hamburg. Our conversation unveiled his arduous journey from Iran through Turkey to Germany. His story inspired me to delve deeper into the hidden migration routes to Europe.

Motivated by Milad's experiences, I initiated a project to trace migration routes from their endpoints in Europe back to their origins. I am currently following two primary routes. One route traces the journey from Greece, through Turkey and Iran, to Afghanistan. The other route begins in Lampedusa, Italy, and extends to Central Africa. This project aims to develop a deeper understanding of the real conditions of people on their perilous journey and to tell the often overlooked stories.

Website www.stefanospaikos.com

Collaborating Artist Stefanos Paikos

Collective or Agency Diversify Photo