Among the many pages of Instagram, there is Greek Song Drawings. As the name suggests, it is a page that contains drawings inspired by Greek songs.
All the drawings are by the hand of 30 year-old Greek-Australian lawyer Chris Macheras. Mr Macheras has liked drawing since he was a kid. However his profession does not give him the opportunity to exercise his artistic talent.
Roughly two months ago, he decided to combine his love of drawing with Greek songs.
‘’I was at work, listening to the song ‘’Roloi – Komboloi’’ (Watch – Worry Beads). So I drew a roloi and a komboloi and wrote the lyrics underneath. I thought it was a good idea so I put it up on Instagram to see if people would like it’’ he said.
People did like it, to the point where now he is doing commissions for Greeks from various parts of the world.
As a child of Greek Australians, he grew up listening to Greek music and he even played the bouzouki. He was further exposed to it while he was attending Greek school.
‘’I remember the teacher would play the song ‘’Vracho vracho ton Kaimo mou’’ (Rock by rock my pain) by Stelios Kazantzidis. We learned about ‘‘ksenitia’’ (emigration) and the relationship it has with music’’.
Mr Macheras said that the more he understood the lyrics, the more he appreciated Greek music and his own Greek identity. Both of his parents were born in Australia to Greek families who came to the country decades ago.
‘’In Australia we are Greeks, but in Greece we are Australians. I have learned that I am Greek Australian. I am proud of my Greek background, but I am also Australian. This is something unique.’’
Greeks from countries other than Australia and Greece, such as the US and Canada follow his page on Instagram, and he has received encouraging messages by well-known Greek artists such as Glykeria and Nana Mouskouri.
