Lila ZOTOU

Tranquility is the word that first comes to my mind every time I enter the world of Kostantis.

He is 83 years old, he lives alone and he was born deaf.

He has never left his village, perhaps only for a couple of times when he was young and his mother brought him to the doctors only to realise that there was nothing they could do back then.

Since then he got used to his silent world by doing lots of work.

He is a meticulous farmer and a shepherd that he never lost any of his animals despite his hearing disadvantage.

Kostantis has lived his life in peace and silence while many times he felt furious when somebody tried to full him, but with no further success.

Often I wonder how life could have been for him if things were different and he was born in to a more privileged environment. He is the most discreet and understanding person that I know in my environment. Fatherless since an infant ha was trained by young age to fight, be independent and fear no one. 

He is not able to communicate with words his insecurity when for example a car approaches him without him hearing it, or when a person gets closer without him noticing them. Or even, all the times that I entered his place and observed him while quietly was going on with his day, without him hearing me but with him always sensing a person’s presence immediately.

Many times I have wondered how he communicates things in his mind. How does he articulates several objects or even ideas to himself I wonder, with colour perhaps and emotions, I conclude.