The Gaïtis–Simossi Museum presents the first temporary exhibition of its 2026 artistic programme with a photographic tribute to the dramatic landscapes of Ios, titled Ios: In the Light of the Gods, by Paul Raphael, an award-winning British film producer, curated by the distinguished Jean Blanchaert. The opening will take place on May 1st 2026 at 19:30, and the exhibition will run until July 3 2026.

The exhibition presents 30 photographs capturing the unique Greek light as it sweeps across the seascapes and rocky formations of Ios—an island Raphael has known since childhood and which he has chosen as his permanent home in recent years. The works are presented as large photographic prints in light boxes, highlighting the power of the Mediterranean sun both in the radiant clarity of summer and in the lesser-known, wilder face of winter. As the artist himself explains: “I wanted to find a way for the sun to pass through the images,” he says, “to illuminate them from within.”

The exhibition marks Raphael’s first presentation as a photographer after a significant career in cinema. His film credits include Pascali’s Island, Rogue Trader, and the award-winning Under the Bombs, and he has collaborated with actors such as Sir Ben Kingsley and Ewan McGregor.

A lifelong bond with Ios

The exhibition takes place following an invitation by Loretta Gaïtis to the photographer, she notes: “When the museum opened its doors in September 2024, it seemed obvious—both to the island’s mayor, Gkikas Gkikas, and to myself—that the first temporary exhibition hosted by the museum should be a tribute to Ios. Paul’s photographs emerged as an entirely natural choice.”

The relationship of Paul Raphael with Ios began in 1962, around the same time that Yiannis Gaïtis and Gabriella Simossi discovered the island as their personal refuge. His father, Frederic Raphael—novelist, Academy Award-winning screenwriter of films such as Darling and Stanley Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut, and translator of ancient Greek myths—purchased a small traditional house on the island where, according to tradition, the tomb of Homer is located.

During their summer visits, Raphael’s father would invent stories about “the little god”—an imaginary local deity who dealt exclusively with the affairs of Ios. The “little god” would often converse with the great gods of Olympus, but only about matters concerning the island. In this mythical world, sunsets were the work of Apollo, and the great waves the anger of Poseidon. These stories left a deep imprint on Paul’s imagination, within a landscape that remains almost unchanged since the time of Homer.

Today, at the age of 68, Raphael reflects:
“I was fortunate enough to live in many countries when I was young, but it was Greece—with its ancient myths and dramatic landscapes—that truly captivated my heart. Since making my life here, I have walked thousands of kilometres with my camera. I am delighted that some of these pictures will now be displayed in such a unique and wonderful space. The title of the exhibition, Ios: In the Light of the Gods, is a tribute to those magical influences of my childhood.”

The decision to present the works in light boxes—specially constructed by the company Multiplo in Athens—relates both to Raphael’s connection to cinema and to the unique quality of the Cycladic light.

Curator Jean Blanchaert notes:
“The exhibition Ios: In the Light of the Gods is an homage to Raphael’s formative influences and to an island experienced as a mythological cosmos. Its sea—the Aegean—is the theatre of history. A striking quality of Paul’s photographs is the beauty that envelops them like a precious, impenetrable shell. Each image is an act of devotion to Ios. His bond with nature is profound and essential.”

Practical information:

Exhibition Opening: May 1st, 19:30
Admission to the exhibition will also be free to the public on May 2.

Exhibition Details
Artist: Paul Raphael
Curator: Jean Blanchaert
Venue: Gaïtis — Simossi Museum
Dates: May 2 – July 3

Opening Hours
May 2 – June 15: 10:00 – 13:30 & 17:30 – 21:00
June 16 – June 29: 10:00 – 13:30 & 18:00 – 21:30 
Open daily except Tuesdays

Admission: included in the museum entrance ticket