Athenstudio

Athenstudio is an architecture series with the aim to reveal an hidden face of the Greek capital through a socio-urban investigation: the high class brothels.

Greece is in fact one of the few European countries that, regarding prostitution, follows a regulatory model: here the brothels are legally registered and offer services for all kind of clients.

The top class ones are more discreet, cleaner and tidier, and the attitude of the prostitutes is more polite in comparison to the normal ones.

These brothels are usually recognizable by a pink neon sign with the word “Studio” placed on the front of the buildings.

Athens, Greece. 2017.

This work won the third prize of the 2017 Sony World Photography Award – Professional Architecture Category

Russ O’Connell, Picture Editor of The Sunday Times Magazine (UK) : “The neon signs is the continuous thread throughout the series, depicting the studio. Behind the façade of this very discreet signage, there is a whole different world and a whole different industry going on – unknown to the rest of the world.”

Huck Magazine, UK: “Diego Mayon’s ethereal project, mostly shot at night, has a beautiful Lynchian vibe.”