If you have ever moved to a new city, you know that you will always remember the first days.
What is an immigrant thinking and feeling?
How does he make sense of his new city?
What are the points that remind him of his motherland?
This is an autobiographical exhibit, which presents the Greek capital, Athens. The audience jumps inside the mind of a Greek immigrant, and explores the transition of newcomer to NY in 2018.
The inspiration came from my Greek relatives, who moved to NYC in '70s. As a child, I remember that when they visited Athens, I was looking forward to "the opening of THE suitcase", which was full of gifts!
The primary audience is Greek Newcomer Immigrants and the secondary NYC explorers and 2nd/ 3rd generation Greeks.
People can experience the exhibition either digitally, with their headphones and smartphone, or physically by the wayfinding and advertisement. Using the "Through my Eyes" app, users can contribute by sharing their stories and enriching the content.
The exhibition is a NYC Walkthrough which is guided through a Greek immigrant's narrative. The exhibition has key-point locations which introduce specific content.
The "Through my eyes" is an temporary annual event, which launches with a big party. The exhibition will help the audience not only to walk in the shoes of Greek immigrants and develop empathy, but also to experience NYC through a different lens.
Among the possible partnerships are the NYC and Greece Tourism Organizations.
This project was created in November 2018, for the Exhibition and Planning Design Studio of Jo Ann Secor, in the Master’s Program of Exhibition and Experience Design, Fashion Institute Technology, NY.
