Photo © Nele Gülck
Nature - NOMINEE: Nele Gülck
Abandoned thermal springs
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Since thousands of years, people visit the springs in the north of Greece. It is said that they have curative effects. Over the course of the economic crisis many state-owned spa resorts have been hurriedly abandoned by their administrations, leaving the sites to themselves.
Today, left behind patient files are scattered through empty hallways and wild dogs live in the lobby. The river, not being used by tourists for cooling down after a hot bath anymore, has become the playground for turtles who enjoy the oleander blossoms that float on its surface. Increasingly, the Hamams are prone to decay and nature is slowly taking back the sites.
Ever since the springs are open to everyone, they have become a sanctuary. Here, in the shadows of century-old plane trees, cultures and freedoms can exist that are not permitted in the surrounding villages and the conservative north of Greece. Couples meet at night in the steaming stone basins. Bulgarian migrant workers who live in rusty containers during the olive harvest, wash their dirty laundry in the hot water. Drop-outs and people without means have gathered the last left over furniture and inhabit the hotel rooms.
As soon as investors become interested in rebuilding the spa-resorts, these sanctuaries will disappear once again – or the mountain’s vegetation will swallow them completely, leaving behind no trace of human presence before they can be recovered.
About author:
Nele Gülck is a freelance photographer and picture editor. 2012 Diploma in Communication Design/ Photography, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences. In her work she commits herself to a wide range of social phenomena, but always refers to the emotional conditions and psychological states of the individual. She lives and works in Hamburg.
awards and grants
2017 DAAD-grant for Greece
2017 Grenzgänger-grant, Robert Bosch Stiftung
2013 10. Aenne Biermann Award
2013 Poznań Photo Diploma Award
2010 Freiburger Stadtfotografin – city photographer grant, Freiburg
2010 Vattenfall Photography Award
2009 German/Russian Exchange Programme with Goethe Institute, Ufa/Russland
exhibitions
2015 „Wann die Winde heimwärts wehn“, 6. Triennale der Photographie Hamburg,
Galerie Genscher/Park
2014 „Auf ewig”, Robert Morat Galerie, Hamburg
2012 „Auf ewig”, Galerie links rechts, Hamburg
2010 „Jugend in Freiburg“, Museum für Stadtgeschichte, Freiburg
group exhibitions (selection)
2017 „Jugend in Freiburg“, Paritätischer Landesverband Baden-Württemberg, Freiburg
2017 „Gute Zeiten, schlechte Zeiten", Galerie Speckstraße, Hamburg
2017 „100% Frappant“, Frappant Galerie, Hamburg
2015 „Portraits – Hellerau Photography Award“, Hellerau – europäisches Zentrum der
Künste Dresden
2015 „The day will come“, 6. Triennale der Photographie Hamburg,
Containerdorf/Deichtorhallen
2015 „Apartimentum“, Hamburg
2014 „P/ART“, Phoenixhallen, Hamburg
2014 „Transphotographiques 2014“, Maison de la Photographie, Lille / Frankreich
2013 „Rencontres d’Arles: Prix du Livre“, Parc des Ateliers, , Arles /Frankreich
2013 „Poznan Photo Diploma Award“, Słodownia+1 Gallery, Poznań / Polen
2013 „10. Aenne Biermann Preis 2013“, Museum für Angewandte Kunst, Gera
2013 „...about what it is to be a fucking human being“, HAW Hamburg
2011 „Familienbande“, Fotogalerie Friedrichshain, Berlin
2011 „Wärme“, Vattenfall Europe AG, Berlin
2010 „Arbeit in Hamburg“, Graf von Westphalen, Hamburg
2009 „Fotofolgen“, HFBK Hamburg
2009 „Taboo“, Photomeetings Luxembourg / Luxemburg
2009 „Wie fotografiert man Veränderung?“, Fotoacadem Ufa / Russland
2009 „Generation Ich“, Müller Meyer Schulze, Hamburg
2008 „Haut. Künstlerische Photographie“, Kunsthaus Hamburg
Today, left behind patient files are scattered through empty hallways and wild dogs live in the lobby. The river, not being used by tourists for cooling down after a hot bath anymore, has become the playground for turtles who enjoy the oleander blossoms that float on its surface. Increasingly, the Hamams are prone to decay and nature is slowly taking back the sites.
Ever since the springs are open to everyone, they have become a sanctuary. Here, in the shadows of century-old plane trees, cultures and freedoms can exist that are not permitted in the surrounding villages and the conservative north of Greece. Couples meet at night in the steaming stone basins. Bulgarian migrant workers who live in rusty containers during the olive harvest, wash their dirty laundry in the hot water. Drop-outs and people without means have gathered the last left over furniture and inhabit the hotel rooms.
As soon as investors become interested in rebuilding the spa-resorts, these sanctuaries will disappear once again – or the mountain’s vegetation will swallow them completely, leaving behind no trace of human presence before they can be recovered.
About author:
Nele Gülck is a freelance photographer and picture editor. 2012 Diploma in Communication Design/ Photography, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences. In her work she commits herself to a wide range of social phenomena, but always refers to the emotional conditions and psychological states of the individual. She lives and works in Hamburg.
awards and grants
2017 DAAD-grant for Greece
2017 Grenzgänger-grant, Robert Bosch Stiftung
2013 10. Aenne Biermann Award
2013 Poznań Photo Diploma Award
2010 Freiburger Stadtfotografin – city photographer grant, Freiburg
2010 Vattenfall Photography Award
2009 German/Russian Exchange Programme with Goethe Institute, Ufa/Russland
exhibitions
2015 „Wann die Winde heimwärts wehn“, 6. Triennale der Photographie Hamburg,
Galerie Genscher/Park
2014 „Auf ewig”, Robert Morat Galerie, Hamburg
2012 „Auf ewig”, Galerie links rechts, Hamburg
2010 „Jugend in Freiburg“, Museum für Stadtgeschichte, Freiburg
group exhibitions (selection)
2017 „Jugend in Freiburg“, Paritätischer Landesverband Baden-Württemberg, Freiburg
2017 „Gute Zeiten, schlechte Zeiten", Galerie Speckstraße, Hamburg
2017 „100% Frappant“, Frappant Galerie, Hamburg
2015 „Portraits – Hellerau Photography Award“, Hellerau – europäisches Zentrum der
Künste Dresden
2015 „The day will come“, 6. Triennale der Photographie Hamburg,
Containerdorf/Deichtorhallen
2015 „Apartimentum“, Hamburg
2014 „P/ART“, Phoenixhallen, Hamburg
2014 „Transphotographiques 2014“, Maison de la Photographie, Lille / Frankreich
2013 „Rencontres d’Arles: Prix du Livre“, Parc des Ateliers, , Arles /Frankreich
2013 „Poznan Photo Diploma Award“, Słodownia+1 Gallery, Poznań / Polen
2013 „10. Aenne Biermann Preis 2013“, Museum für Angewandte Kunst, Gera
2013 „...about what it is to be a fucking human being“, HAW Hamburg
2011 „Familienbande“, Fotogalerie Friedrichshain, Berlin
2011 „Wärme“, Vattenfall Europe AG, Berlin
2010 „Arbeit in Hamburg“, Graf von Westphalen, Hamburg
2009 „Fotofolgen“, HFBK Hamburg
2009 „Taboo“, Photomeetings Luxembourg / Luxemburg
2009 „Wie fotografiert man Veränderung?“, Fotoacadem Ufa / Russland
2009 „Generation Ich“, Müller Meyer Schulze, Hamburg
2008 „Haut. Künstlerische Photographie“, Kunsthaus Hamburg