"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."
Artist: Aristidis Schnelzer
Project: Beneath the Pavement the Beach
"Since then, there has been no end to international reporting on the island. However, these reports are often oversimplified. 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 and a lack of natural harbors, Ikaria was not on the major sea trade routes. The islanders were therefore forced to self-organize. The striving for autonomy and the absence of state interference is still omnipresent today. Police stations are declared superfluous, bartering is still popular and local decisions are often made in neighborly affinity groups. 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. Although tourism is playing an increasingly important role, most Ikarians still live a simple and self-determined life as farmers, shepherds or craftsmen."
© Aristidis Schnelzer