Vassilis Vrettos

Mise en abyme / The Self within the Self


This highly original exhibition featuring staged portraits was based on an idea by well-known artistic photographer Vassilis Vrettos and entailed photographing people who are recognisable to a lesser or greater degree, and who are primarily representatives of the visual and performing arts.



These individuals were asked by the artist to stage themselves and their surrounding atmosphere and to provide any necessary props. In this way, they deconstruct their compatible identity and stage a dream or a fantasy, thus revealing a small, unknown part of themselves to the viewer.

The title Mise en abyme / The Self within the Self refers to the small, “enclosed”, unknown worlds of the people being photographed during the photo session. Moreover, it’s linked to the idea of the trompe l’oeil of advertising, as well as to the mirroring of two texts in literature.



Among the approximately 30 artists who happily agreed to take part in the project were, among others, actor/director Nikos Karathanos and artist Angelos Papadimitriou.