4-31.05.2010 - THE PHOTOMONTH IN KRAKOW
Photomonth is ranked among the world's most prestigious photography events. In Poland it is one of the largest ongoing cultural events - it is one of few opportunities to have a look at photography as a contemporary art, to see its wealth of contexts and themes, which often undermine the stereotypical image of a given country or society. This year the curators of Photomonth are focusing on Great Britain: its history, archives, and most recent accomplishments. Outstanding curators have been invited to collaborate, as have prestigious galleries, where the exhibitions, documentary films, meetings with artists and critics and presentations of photo-books will be taking place - all making up a photographic description of Great Britain.
One world-scale event will be the solo exhibition of the work of a great precursor of British social documentary photography - Tony Ray-Jones. The changes prompted by this prematurely-deceased artist will then be shown at the ‘Facts of Life - British Photography 1974-1997' exhibit, presenting the foremost figures in British photography from this period. The presentation will acquaint audiences with this breakthrough period, when British photography began to be regarded as distinct throughout the world, as interested in social life and politically engaged. The 1990s and the changes they brought, particularly in the generation of extasy and heroin chic, are the subject of the curator project entitled "Nothing Is in the Place" (curator: Jason Evans). ‘Update.UK', meanwhile, is a multimedia presentation of the most vital phenomena on the British photography scene since the year 2000. The group of nine world-famous British specialists invited to take part - curators, historians, journalists and photographers - indicated both the breakthrough phenomena of the past decade, and placed their bets on the most promising artists of the younger generation, whose work we shall see in Krakow.
The links between Polish and British photography will be the subject of two individual exhibitions. Photographer Jeremy Millar will present a project that came from his fascination for the work of Stanisław Witkiewicz and Bronisław Malinowski. ‘As Witkiewicz' is a play on the photographs the Polish artist might have taken in Papua New Guinea, documenting the work of the anthropologist. Another important undertaking will be the premiere showing of a project by Mark Power, a leading member of the legendary Magnum Photos. In a series entitled ‘The Sound of Two Songs' that was five years in the making, Power tells a nostalgic tale of present-day Poland seen through the eyes of a foreigner. Kalev Erickson will also present a series of photographs whose main protagonist is London's Gherkin, and Lisa Byrne will show her three-part ‘Taxi' film project.
A supplement to this photographic picture of Great Britain will be an exhibition of work by Adam Broomberg and Oliver Chanarin, who will be showing their latest series in Krakow, a work called ‘Afterlife', and the exhibit of collages by John Stezaker. Among the hits of the festival will surely be the presentation of works by Anna Fox - an artist who has just been nominated for the Deutsche Börse Photography Prize. Fox's unflinching photography combines a tendency to record personal experiences on film and insightful social observations.
Photomonth in Krakow will also see the conclusions of two photography competitions: sittcomm.award, aimed at professionals from Southern and Central-Eastern Europe, and the Show Off Section, meant to help young photography talents present their work to Krakow audiences. Each of the ten winners - Paweł Bajew, Łukasz Biederman, Joanna Chudy, Agata Kadenacy, Dominika Kamińska, Dawid Cyprian Kot, Anna Małysz, Filip Gabriel Pudło, Grzegorz Stefański, Kamil Zacharski - is put under the supervision of a curator/juror. Kuba Dąbrowski, Mikołaj Komar, Jacek Poremba, Karol Radziszewski and Tomek Sikora will work with the photographers drawn from the competition to create exhibits that will best show off their work.
The main programme of Photomonth in Krakow is paired with an extensive accompanying programme. On Saturday, May 8th, after sunset, Slide Nite will commence - a night-time show of photography from Poland and abroad, held in Krakow's clubs and in the open air. Photography lovers will have a chance to meet the invited artists, but also see the various exhibitions, around which they will be led by the curators and photographers themselves, who will talk about their work. Lectures and meetings, a performance by students of Krakow's Theatre Academy and a large selection of accompanying exhibitions will ensure that, once again, May in Krakow means photography.
The ceremonial inauguration of the festival will be Friday May 7th, but from Tuesday till Thursday (4-6.05) exhibitions will be opened in the framework of the Show OFF Section. On Sunday (9.05) the accompanying events will get underway. Entry to almost all of the Photomonth exhibitions (apart from the Bunkier Sztuki, the National Museum and International Cultural Center) is free. The festival runs till May 30th.
current projects
1.05.-29.05.2010 – an exhibition in the Red Barn Gallery in Belfast during the Polska!Year see more
As every year, Photomonth in Krakow brings their audiences over thirty exhibitions, meetings with artists, lectures, film screenings, and workshops. This year’s theme is the photographic art of Great Britain. see more