A series of photographs and drawings of children’s faces that have been blurred and scribbled on hang on the walls of the silent white room. Through them the artist intends to expose the power relations between children and adults.

The “Childhood Abused” exhibition by Christina Kalbari opened October 4 at the Batagianni Gallery in Psirri, in central Athens. The collection of triptych images which combine photography and drawing illustrates what Kalbari says are the negative effects of the guiding roles of social institutions on childhood.

“Through this work I wanted to express myself, foremost,” Kalbari said. “I am at an age where I might soon be engaged in one of these power relations. I wanted to create images that would represent children’s feelings.”

Kalbari used images from family photographic archives and drawings that she re-photographed and cropped. She said photographs and drawings of children in their home, school and church environment portray an oppressed childhood. The children in her photographs face guilt, intimidation and confinement.

“I believe these power relations will always exist,” Kalbari said. “Children are being oppressed consciously and it is a universal phenomenon.”

Visitors drew their own conclusions.

“I don’t believe that children are abused,” opined one woman after strolling through the exhibition. “It’s just that in all social institutions adults believe they have a duty to raise and guide children, without understanding that they are being oppressive sometimes.”

The artist has incorporated Greek elements in her work, with photographs of children carrying Greeks flags, wearing Greek Orthodox crosses and marching in parades.

“People everywhere go through these phases where they are oppressed,” Kalbari said in an interview with Athens News. “Neither the adult nor the child can get away from these roles, they have to play them.”

The exhibition is one of 21 being sponsored by the culture ministry, the Center for Photography and the Art Galleries Association to mark the 12 th International Month of Photography in Athens.

The “Childhood Abused” exhibition is open to the public from Tuesday to Saturday, until October 29.