Greece’s Papatsanis shares tips, insights at Xposure 2025

Sharjah24: For over two decades, Greek photographer Agorastos Papatsanis has lived and breathed his passion to document mushrooms in their natural habitats, enabling the world to understand and appreciate the intricate relationships they form within ecosystems. The acclaimed artist enthralled audiences on the inaugural day of the International Photography Festival (Xposure) 2025 with his talk on Thursday, unravelling the mysterious world of mushrooms and sharing a journey that combines art, science, and the raw power of nature.

What started as scientific documentation in 1999 evolved into a unique fusion of realism and poetic storytelling. “I seek to show you mushrooms in the natural landscape with a dose of illusion,” he said.

“When you photograph like everyone else, all you do is neutralise your uniqueness,” he added.

Nature’s most underrated architects

His photographs illustrate the symbiotic relationships between fungi and trees, particularly the intricate underground networks of the fungal mutualism that facilitate communication and nutrient exchange. “Mushrooms sustain life, transform it, transport it, and heal it,” he noted.

“They are the great recyclers of the forest. Without them, the forest would be a vast graveyard of leaves,” he emphasised.

His exhibition ‘Mushroom Magic’, on display at Xposure 2025, presents fungi in a new light. The sharpness and brilliance of their colours, often on specimens merely 30cm in length. These features make them as compelling as the finest works of art, worthy even of gracing the cover of National Geographic. In fact, the magazine published a 10-page feature on mushrooms in April this year, showcasing Papatsani’s images on both the cover and inside pages. “To see my photos from Greek forests travel across the world is a great success – a blessing from Mother Nature,” he said.

“I feel proud, but without arrogance. Actions speak louder than words,” he said.

While his work has earned him international tributes and publication in leading magazines, he remains grounded in his artistic philosophy. “Many paths lead to the destination. My family and I have chosen to admire the magnificence of nature and the wisdom of the mushroom kingdom.”

From the famed Amanita Muscaria—the iconic red-and-white fairy tale mushroom—to the veiled Dictyophora of South Korea, his images at Xposure 2025 invite viewers to reconnect with the natural world. “Mushrooms invite people to come closer to nature with love, respect, and care for future generations. I prefer to showcase the beauty of my own country,” he said.

“Many wonders lie in our own backyards—we do not always need to travel to the farthest corners of the world to find them,” Papatsanis added.

For Papatsanis, mushrooms are more than just photographic subjects. They are storytellers, symbols of transformation, and messengers from a hidden world. And photography “is a weapon – a powerful one. It activates people in the fight to protect and conserve nature.”

“A single image can move people to care. So let’s use its power today,” he stated.

The 9th edition of the International Photography Festival is free to attend and is taking place at Aljada, Sharjah, until February 26. For more information, visit https://xposure.net/.