The photography book, which is nowadays the preferred medium of choice for many photographers, is at the heart of Photobooks Switzerland, the first event in Switzerland to be entirely devoted to them. Initiated in 2019 by Geneva-based artist Anastasia Mityukova, it aims to bring the best of contemporary independent photographic publishing to Switzerland. It seeks to open up reflection and discussion on the status and importance of the photographic book, as well as to convey new inputs and impressions on the possibility of this medium in the Swiss cultural scene. Its aim is to create a convivial and festive atmosphere to encourage exchanges and encounters between all sections of the public: professionals, photographers, students, photography enthusiasts, publishers and schools.
PROGRAMME
Photobook fair
Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 June (11am-7pm)
International photography book fair with over 40 publishers, collectives and independent photographers. Find all the publishers on the Photobooks Switzerland website.
ROUND TABLES
Saturday 22 June (3pm-4pm)
Subject to be confirmed
Sunday 23 June (10am-11am)
"Behind the Shelves: how does a specialist bookshop work?
A discussion with Yves Drillet from the Nouveau Palais bookshop in Rennes and Andrea Copetti from the Tipi Bookshop in Brussels.
DUMMY CLINIC
Sunday 23 June (11am-6pm)
DUMMY CLINIC is a portfolio review focusing on photographic book layouts that will be analysed and criticised by experts. This is an opportunity for photographers to present their work in progress to professionals such as publishers, graphic designers and established photographers. The main objective of a portfolio is to obtain constructive comments, advice and opportunities to promote and develop one's photographic career.
Experts: Aneta Kowalczyk, BLOW UP PRESS, PL, Aron Morel, MÖREL BOOKS, UK, Zhen SHI, Maison de Z, FR , Pablo Lerma, Meteoro Editions, NL , Nadja Zimmermann, NASK, CH, Pascal Schyns, Editions du Caïd, BE , Andrea Copetti, Tipi Bookshop specialized in Photobooks, BE, Romain Pruvost, Classe moyenne éditions, FR.
Registration link: https://forms.gle/9SDxc9o9UnxPTxis5
WORKSHOP
Image text, writing workshop and exhibition
Saturday 22 June (1-5pm) and Sunday 23 June (1-6pm)
With Léonie Rose Marion
Vilém Flusser writes in his essay Pour une philosophie de la photographie that "deciphering texts means discovering the images they signify".
Photography has always been linked to text. Both make up a large part of certain narratives and artistic works. This workshop will look at the relationship between text and image, and the way in which it is expressed, whether in print or in the exhibition space. The workshop will include theoretical sessions with various examples, writing sessions with practical exercises and personal essays linked to each project, as well as group discussions/feedbacks and individual advice.
The workshop is open to photographers and artists who wish to explore different approaches between photography and text for an ongoing project.
Workshop schedule
Presentation of the workshop, presentation of each participant, theoretical inputs with examples of artists and works.
Practical creative writing exercises, group feedback.
Round the table: who wants to test what/where?
Personal writing, print/layout tests possible.
Work on hanging, putting ideas into space.
Finissage presentation of the creative space.
Registration link: https://forms.gle/3PkJMxYrHH2ZeUuJ7
BEHIND THE BOOKS
15-minute presentations by publishers and photographers.
Lounge area on the first floor
Saturday 22nd June
12pm Fair Enough Rough Tide / Akosua Viktoria Abu-Sanyah
1pm La Maison de Z Selfiers: Sealed with Images/ He Bo & Xu Lei
2pm BLOW UP PRESS Eternal U / Hubert Humka
3pm Case di Fotografia Tràdere / Chiara Navelli
4pm Arnaud Bizalion Bergères / Vanessa Chambard
5pm Editions Light Motiv Wuhan Radiography / Simon Vansteenwinckel
6pm Giostre Edizioni Dans le Silence / Loic Lafoge
Sunday 23rd June
12h Pool collective Pomegranates grow in winter / Anna-Tia Buss
1pm Meteoro Editions Innamorato / Allen Frame
2pm Axaxaxa Mixed Media RDM68, Memory of a neighbourhood
3pm Boabooks Source(s) / Florian Bach
4pm RVB BOOKS I no longer love blue skies / Gaetan Uldry
5pm Nouveau Palais A History of the East End / Chris Dorley Brown
EXHIBITION
Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 June (11am-7pm)
In Paradise, the apocalyptic series imagined by Gian Marco Sanna, born in Rome in 1993, the world appears in just three shades: black, red and white. At the heart of this surreal universe, where strange plants, wild animals and a few wandering souls meet, the photographer questions our self-destructive tendencies and warns us: without change, our planet is heading for ruin (Fisheye Magazine, 2022).
Exhibition presented and curated by Artphilein, Lugano, CH