Pool Session, Lanzarote, (1999)
Alexander Kayiambakis tells the story behind this image:
"I remember when you could buy those cheap plastic Polaroid cameras at the supermarket on holiday. They were easy to get, but expensive to use – and the
look of the mass-produced film had a charm of its own.
When the sun was high and the shadows were short, I thought that soft, unfocused Polaroid
aesthetic really worked. By the pool, you’d always see older guests at the bar, taking part in the hotel’s organized games – sometimes even wearing swim caps.
I took this at the cheapest hotel I could find – as long as it had a pool, that was enough."
Alexander Kayiambakis is represented in the renowned Møller Collection, which will be permanently housed in the new photo center Dech/Fotografiska in 2028 — a recognition that reflects the depth and distinctiveness of his photographic voice.
His work explores the intersection between analog and digital processes through a material, open-ended approach. The images are intuitive and quietly observational, often inviting the viewer to pause and see the familiar anew. Rooted in decades of image-making, his practice is shaped by both deliberate choices and the unexpected.
Deeply influenced by landscapes — both natural and built — Kayiambakis often works in coastal and rugged environments, where human presence meets elemental forces. His compositions reflect a sensitivity to space, light, and atmosphere, capturing the subtle tension between permanence and impermanence.
With a background as a four-time Norwegian skateboarding champion and former team rider for Santa Cruz, his photographic gaze is informed by movement, spatial awareness, and a deep connection to rhythm and flow — qualities that echo through his visual storytelling.
He studied at the Norwegian Film School and is currently Head of Studies at the Department of Art and Design Education at OsloMet.
