More than 200 guests gathered at the Greek Centre last Wednesday for the launch of Professor Nikos Papastergiadis’s new book, ‘John Berger and Me: A Migrant’s Eye’.
In an evening filled with reflections on friendship, mentorship, and the journey of a migrant artist, the event celebrated Papastergiadis’s tribute to his late friend, the influential writer and art critic John Berger.
Christos Tsiolkas, a renowned author and guest speaker, described the book as a profound meditation on love in its many forms—between friends, family members, and mentors.
He praised John Berger and Me as a warm, accessible homage to friendship and intellectual companionship, a departure from Papastergiadis’s more scholarly works.
Tsiolkas drew attention to the portrayal of Papastergiadis’s father, John, and the role both his father and Berger played in shaping the professor’s career.
In a discussion that followed, Papastergiadis and Tsiolkas shared their experiences as migrants from working-class backgrounds navigating the arts.
Papastergiadis recalled his mother’s initial doubts about his pursuit of art, seeing it as a path “for the rich,” though she valued education.
Both he and Tsiolkas focused on the importance of celebrating “peasant heritage” and making the arts accessible to all.
Professor Scott McQuire, a close friend of Papastergiadis, concluded the evening by recounting a memorable visit to Berger’s home in the French Alps.
McQuire described John Berger and Me as a work that brings Papastergiadis’s storytelling to life, honouring the “two Johns”—his father and Berger—who were pivotal influences in his life.
