Exhibitions & Milestones

This is the story of The Evzones Collection, in order, with the dates and venues and a link to the press coverage of each milestone where there is one. It begins with a Presidential Guard visit to Sydney in 2016 and, so far, ends at the Gold Coast in 2026.

At a glance: more than 7,000 people have seen the exhibition across Australia, and since the Canberra launch in 2021 my team and I have raised and donated over AU$97,780 to Greek charities, organisations, institutions and agencies in Australia and Greece (News; Australia).

2016–2020: Meeting the Evzones

April 2016 – Sydney: where it began

I first met the Evzones in April 2016, when a detachment of the Presidential Guard came to Sydney for the Anzac commemorations and the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Crete, at the invitation of the Hellenic Club Sydney. With special permission from the RSL, they mounted a guard at the Martin Place Cenotaph from 20 to 22 April. The Hellenic Club Sydney asked me to photograph the rest of that tour, and later that year I travelled to Greece and started photographing the Guard there.

Press: SBS Greek, 3 Aug 2021 (interview); Greek Reporter, 24 Feb 2021; Neos Kosmos, 23 Feb 2021.

2016–2023 – Seven years behind the scenes

Over the next seven years I was granted rare, behind-the-scenes access to all areas of the Garrison in Athens and to the ceremonial duties the Evzones carry out every day. I followed them again in Australia when members of the Guard returned to Melbourne and Adelaide. I tried to capture photos that are not common, in places where very few are privileged even to get a glimpse of the Evzones.

Press: Greek City Times, 22 Mar 2023.

2017 – Sunrise on the Acropolis

In 2017 I shot the first season of the TV travel series My Greek Odyssey. Five hours after I arrived in Greece, I was climbing the Acropolis with the Evzones to photograph the sunrise.

Press: SBS Greek, 3 Aug 2021.

The Presidential Guard’s 150-year book

My photographs appear in the book the Presidential Guard published to celebrate its 150th anniversary.

2021: The Bicentennial tour

February 2021 – The Evzones Collection book

Ahead of the launch, the entire exhibition was published as a collector’s premium coffee table book, The Evzones Collection, printed in landscape on archival satin silk paper (Shop).

Press: Neos Kosmos, 23 Feb 2021; Greek Reporter, 24 Feb 2021.

16 February 2021 – Sydney media launch

The full exhibition was first shown to media, sponsors, contributors and invited guests at St Spyridon Church Hall, Sydney, under the auspices of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia.

Press: Greek City Times, 17 Feb 2021.

19–21 February 2021 – Canberra: national launch and the 1821–2021 Bicentennial program

The official launch of the national exhibition took place at the Hellenic Club of Canberra. It was the first event on the calendar of the National Committee for the 200 Years of Greek Independence 1821–2021, coordinated through the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, and the exhibition was part of the official national program for the Bicentennial. I donated three exhibition prints for auction, which raised over $15,000 for the local Greek School.

Press: Neos Kosmos, 23 Feb 2021; Greek City Times, 22 Feb 2021; Greek Reporter, 24 Feb 2021.

The exhibition was endorsed by the Head of the Garrison at the time, Mr George Besiris, and later by the new Head, Mr Ilias Karmiris, and the Greek Presidential Guard, as well as by the Hellenic National Defence General Staff, the Consulates General of Greece in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide, the Ambassador of Greece to Australia and the 200 Years of Hellenism Committee (Australia).

16 March 2021 – Sydney: Kytherian House

A mini exhibition for members of the Kytherian Association of Australia.

27 March – 4 April 2021 – Melbourne: Oakleigh Grammar

The entire exhibition at the Oakleigh Grammar Conference Centre, hosted and organised in conjunction with the 2021 Victorian Bicentenary Committee and the Organisational Council for Greek National Day. SBS Greek interviewed me there.

Press: The Greek Herald, 26 Mar 2021; Greek City Times, 27 Mar 2021; Greek City Times, 28 Mar 2021; SBS Greek, 3 Aug 2021.

22–25 April 2021 – Adelaide: Holy Monastery of St Nectarios

The entire exhibition, launched on Friday 23 April. The Adelaide leg raised $5,000 for the Central Philoptochos of the Archdiocesan District of Adelaide.

Press: Greek City Times, 28 Apr 2021.

Mid-2021 – Lockdown

A planned semi-exhibition at the Greek Independence Day State Reception at Government House, Melbourne, was postponed, and Sydney’s second lockdown put the rest of the 2021 tour on hold. From February to June 2021 the exhibition had raised and donated close to $30,000.

Press: Greek City Times, 21 Aug 2021.

2022: Back on the road

9 April 2022 – Canberra: National Museum of Australia

A mini exhibition at the National Museum of Australia.

Press: Greek City Times, 16 May 2022.

3 May 2022 – Sydney: Australian National Maritime Museum

A semi exhibition at a private fundraising function for the National Monument to Migration. Two of my images were auctioned for the Greek Independence Bicentenary Project Fund. That night I announced that the exhibition had been invited to the Athens War Museum.

Press: Greek City Times, 5 May 2022; Greek City Times, 16 May 2022.

The invitation came from Mr Nikolaos Roussos, History Museum Designer and Conservation Technician, while he was in Australia for the 1821 exhibition at Sydney Town Hall in 2022 (Australia).

27–29 May 2022 – Sydney: Hellenic Club Sydney, Beta – The Grand

The first open public viewing in Sydney, hosted by the Hellenic Club Sydney. Archbishop Makarios attended the launch.

Press: Greek City Times, 16 May 2022; Greek City Times, 28 May 2022.

19 June 2022 – Sydney: All Saints Grammar, Belmore

A semi exhibition at All Saints Grammar, Belmore Church.

11 September 2022 – Parramatta: Let’s Go Greek Festival

A semi exhibition at the Let’s Go Greek Festival of the Greek Orthodox Parish-Community of St Ioannis.

Press: Greek City Times, 17 Sep 2022.

October 2022 – Newtown Soup Kitchen

The Evzones Collection made a donation to the Soup Kitchen at Saints Constantine and Helen Church, Newtown.

Press: Greek City Times, 26 Oct 2022.

2023: Athens

12 February 2023 – Sydney: St Basil’s Greek Summer Festival

A mini exhibition at the festival.

Press: Greek City Times, 10 Feb 2023 (festival preview).

3 March 2023 – Sydney: “The Road to Athens”

A send-off event at the Hellenic Club Sydney, Beta – The Grand, before the exhibition travelled to Greece.

Press: Greek City Times, 2 Feb 2023.

20–31 March 2023 – Athens War Museum

We were invited to exhibit at the Athens War Museum as the first Greeks from the diaspora, for the 25th of March celebrations. The exhibition, under the patronage of H.E. the President of the Hellenic Republic, Ms Katerina Sakellaropoulou, was shown in the museum’s ground-floor foyer. It opened for viewing on 20 March, and the official opening on 24 March was attended by more than 150 people, including Members of Parliament and senior military officials. The Athens exhibition was made possible by the sponsorship of the Australian Greek community.

Press: Presidency of the Hellenic Republic; Greek City Times, 5 Mar 2023; Neos Kosmos (Greek), 5 Mar 2023; The Greek Herald, 7 Mar 2023; ThraceNews, 17 Mar 2023; ERT Voice of Greece, 17 Mar 2023; Greek City Times, 22 Mar 2023; ERT Voice of Greece, 23 Mar 2023; Greek City Times, 25 Mar 2023.

George Karantonis and I were also interviewed by ERT television about the Athens exhibition; the clip is on the Media page.

19 December 2023 – Donation to the President of the Hellenic Republic

At an intimate viewing at the Greek Presidential Guard Headquarters (Garrison) in Athens, I donated the entire Athens exhibition, 27 photographs on hand-woven metallic canvas, to the Presidency of the Hellenic Republic, and gave President Katerina Sakellaropoulou a guided tour. The Presidency had asked for the collection to be permanently displayed at the Presidential Palace and at the headquarters of the Presidential Guard. The exhibition was valued at over AU$47,000, and the Garrison and Presidency staff and the Athens War Museum team reconstructed it at the Garrison.

Press: Presidency of the Hellenic Republic; Greek City Times, 20 Dec 2023; Neos Kosmos, 20 Dec 2023; ERT Voice of Greece, 20 Dec 2023; The Greek Herald, 21 Dec 2023.

SBS Radio’s Efthymios Kallos hosted a discussion with George Karantonis and me about the donation.

2024–2026: Brisbane, Randwick, Athens and the Gold Coast

2024 – Gold medal, European Photography Awards

My photograph “Spectrum of the Sacred Guard” won a gold medal at the European Photography Awards.

Press: European Photography Awards.

25 March and 5–7 April 2024 – Brisbane: The Greek Club

On Greek Independence Day the exhibition was unveiled at the Consulate-General of Greece reception at The Greek Club, Brisbane, hosted by George Mastrocostas, Honorary Consul-General of Greece in Queensland. The entire exhibition then opened to the public from 5 to 7 April under the auspices of the Greek Orthodox Community of St George Brisbane Cultural Committee.

Press: Greek City Times, 8 Apr 2024.

24 April – 2 May 2025 – Sydney: St Basil’s NSW/ACT, Randwick

The entire exhibition at St Basil’s aged care home in Randwick. On 1 May 2025, during their Anzac visit, the Evzones marched into St Basil’s and led a ceremonial march to the opening of the exhibition.

Press: The Greek Herald, 2 May 2025; Greek City Times, 11 May 2025.

3 February 2026 – Athens: Australia Day reception, Australian Embassy in Greece

The Evzones Collection was shown at the Australia Day 2026 diplomatic reception hosted by Ambassador Alison Duncan at the Saroglio Mansion, Officers’ Club of the Armed Forces (LAED), Athens, for more than 400 guests. It included eleven photographs of the Guard taken in Australia that had never been shown before. Works by Effy Alexakis were also on display.

Press: Neos Kosmos, 5 Feb 2026; The Greek Herald, 5 Feb 2026; Greek City Times, 7 Feb 2026.

31 October – 1 November 2026 – Gold Coast Greek Festival

The entire exhibition at the Gold Coast Greek Festival at HOTA, Home of the Arts, Surfers Paradise: about 26 large-format prints in two locations across both days. This comes right after the Presidential Guard’s OXI Day visit to Sydney and Canberra (22–29 October 2026).

Press: Greek City Times, 11 Oct 2026.

Next – The USA tour

Planning is underway to present the exhibition in over four US capital cities, with over thirty photos and workshops with the Presidential Guard Evzones Association, an association of former Guardsmen, military historians, re-enactors, scientists and cultural experts. Exhibitions in Canada and the UK are also being planned. Dates have not been announced. Sponsorship enquiries: evzones@greece2021.com.au (USA).

Press

Coverage of The Evzones Collection, newest first.

• Greek City Times – “Gold Coast Greek Festival 2026: Food, Music, Fireworks and The Evzones Collection at HOTA” (11 Oct 2026)
• Greek City Times – “Australian Embassy in Greece Celebrates National Day of Australia 2026” (7 Feb 2026)
• The Greek Herald – “Australian embassy in Athens celebrates Australia Day” (5 Feb 2026)
• Neos Kosmos – “Australian Embassy marks Australia Day in Greece” (5 Feb 2026)
• Greek City Times – “Evzones March to St Basil’s Randwick Age Care…” (11 May 2025)
• The Greek Herald – “Evzones bring Greece to St Basil’s at Randwick” (2 May 2025)
• Greek City Times – “Brisbane Concludes March 25th Celebrations with the Honouring of the Evzones” (8 Apr 2024)
• European Photography Awards – “Spectrum of the Sacred Guard” (2024)
• The Greek Herald – “Nick Bourdaniotis donates Evzones exhibition to Greece’s Presidency” (21 Dec 2023)
• ERT Voice of Greece – «Ομογενής δωρίζει συλλογή φωτογραφιών των Ευζώνων στην Προεδρία της Ελληνικής Δημοκρατίας» (20 Dec 2023)
• Neos Kosmos – “Nick Bourdaniotis’ photographic series ‘The Evzones Collection’ donated to the Presidency of Greece” (20 Dec 2023)
• Greek City Times – “Preservation of Evzone Heritage: Photographic Exhibition Presented to the President of Greece” (20 Dec 2023)
• Presidency of the Hellenic Republic – «Στην έκθεση φωτογραφίας “THE EVZONES COLLECTION” στην Προεδρική Φρουρά» (Dec 2023)
• Presidency of the Hellenic Republic – Photographic Exhibition “The Evzones Collection” under the auspices of the President of the Republic (Mar 2023)
• Greek City Times – “The Evzones Collection: Greek-Australian exhibition pulls at the heart-strings of Greece” (25 Mar 2023)
• ERT Voice of Greece – «Οι Εύζωνες μέσα από τη ματιά του διάσημου Ελληνοαυστραλού φωτογράφου Νικ Μπουρδανιώτη» (23 Mar 2023)
• Greek City Times – “The Evzones Collection Is NOW Open In Athens” (22 Mar 2023)
• ERT Voice of Greece – «Στην Αθήνα η έκθεση φωτογραφίας “Συλλογή των Ευζώνων”…» (17 Mar 2023)
• ThraceNews – «Στην Αθήνα η έκθεση φωτογραφίας “Συλλογή των Ευζώνων”…» (17 Mar 2023)
• The Greek Herald – “The Evzones Collection goes to Athens in world-first exhibition” (7 Mar 2023)
• Neos Kosmos (Greek) – «“Η Συλλογή των Ευζώνων”… στο Πολεμικό Μουσείο της Αθήνας» (5 Mar 2023)
• Greek City Times – “The Evzones Collection Goes To Athens” (5 Mar 2023)
• Greek City Times – “The Road to Athens” (2 Feb 2023)
• Greek City Times – “The Evzones Collection donates to help Soup Kitchen at Newtown Church” (26 Oct 2022)
• Greek City Times – “Parramatta goes full Greek with the best of our Hellenic culture” (17 Sep 2022)
• Greek City Times – “‘Soulful’ Evzones Exhibition Sydney Launch” (28 May 2022)
• Greek City Times – “‘The Evzones Collection’ marches into Sydney for exhibition before heading to Athens War Museum” (16 May 2022)
• Greek City Times – “Maritime Museum Fundraiser helps Greek Diaspora Leave their Legacy” (5 May 2022)
• Greek City Times – “A Father’s Day Gift Like No Other” (21 Aug 2021)
• SBS Greek – “‘Basically I’m part of the Evzones family’: A Greek Australian photographer shares his story” (podcast, 3 Aug 2021)
• Greek City Times – “‘The Evzones Collection’ raises over $25,000 for charities across Australia” (28 Apr 2021)
• Greek City Times – “Melbourne leg of ‘The Evzones Collection’ national exhibition a resounding success” (28 Mar 2021)
• Greek City Times – “Esteemed Evzones Photographer Nick Bourdaniotis. The Legend Behind the Lens.” (27 Mar 2021)
• The Greek Herald – “Nick Bourdaniotis’ Evzones Collection launches today in Melbourne” (26 Mar 2021)
• Greek Reporter – “Evzones Exhibit Opens Greek Bicentennial Year in Australia” (24 Feb 2021)
• Neos Kosmos – “It’s begun: The Evzones Collection Exhibition launches 1821 anniversary celebrations in Australia” (23 Feb 2021)
• Greek City Times – “‘The Evzones Collection’ raises $15,000 for the Greek School of Canberra” (22 Feb 2021)
• Greek City Times – “First Look: The Evzones Collection” (17 Feb 2021)
• Video, TV and radio: walkthroughs, speeches, the ERT interview and dance performances are on the Media page.