PHOTOGRAPHY: SEXUAL COMMERCE /ongoing

"Sex is like money; only too much is enough” said the American writer John Updike.

Things become difficult when sex and money are combined.

Despite the fact that Greece has been in a period of economic crisis, the porn industry has been reborn even on a lower budget.

In the City of Athens, sexual information is everywhere, on billboards, on the Internet of course but even at kiosks in the streets you are able to find a big selection of porn films.

The motivation that got me involved in this project was the release of a porn film in 2010 of a Greek starlet that was launched at 17.000 different points of sale throughout the country, mostly kiosks, during a period when Greece was really under economic and psychological pressure.

According to the information from the distribution agencies and the production company, the film was printed in 200.000 copies and the total revenue was four million euros. This porn film was sold out and revived the porn film industry in Greece.

Many people are involved in the sex industry, some by choice but others by force.

There are women legally residing in Greece either engaged to Greeks or brought to Greece as «artists» or they enter legally as tourists. Greece is also known as “the center of trafficking in Europe”. A primary destination and transit country for human trafficking, an estimated 800,000 people are trafficked across Greek borders every year. Approximately 20,000 women, including 1 000 girls between the ages of 13-15, remain in the Greek sex industry. According to the Trafficking in Persons Report, these victims are primarily from Eastern Europe, the Balkans and Nigeria.

An aspect, which I would also like to document further with this project.

“Jennifer” hasn’t been forced, she is a twenty-five year old stripper from Romania and the star of “Diamonds and Dolls’’ one of the many strip clubs on Sygrou avenue, a main avenue in the center of Athens. She works together with ten other girls two of which are Greek.

She has always worked in the sex industry. Her journey started from Romania and it has taken her to South Africa, London and finally to Greece.

“Jim XXX’’ as he calls himself today, was born in London, studied economics but in 2001 he lost his job. He started working as a model and today he works as a porn star in London.

He was in Athens last year to attend the “ Athens Erotica”.

A new festival that focuses mainly on the sex industry.

Greece may not have as yet a very strong sex industry compared to other countries but will the economic crisis create new employment, raise social issues and a higher percentage of prostitution in this country?

These are all questions that I would like to investigate and document.

In the United States for example, the pornographic film industry which is in Los Angeles, has an estimated number of 200 production companies in the region, employing as many as 1,500 performers, making up to 11,000 films and estimated to earn as much as $13 billion a year. By 2010, the number of clubs in the U.S. grew up to approximately 4,000.

“Sex is the most fun you can have without laughing.” Said Woody Allen. Yes, but without paying someone, one could reply.