Monday 16 February 2009

ALERT : ASEF EMERGING PHOTOGRAPHERS' FORUM IN KL 2009


Alex Moh, one of Malaysia's most respected and dedicated fine art photographer has initiated the :

ASEF EMERGING PHOTOGRAPHERS' FORUM IN KL 2009

"The theme of the Asia-Europe Emerging Photographers’ Forum 2009 is centered on the topic of “Creative Economies”. Twenty emerging photographers will portray indirect and alternative economic outlooks (gift economies, social cooperation, sustainable economies etc.) in Asia and Europe. Through these narratives the photographer’s will open different spaces of imagination, metaphors, fictions, reality and advantages within the context of the current economic crisis. How can creative photography impact the perception of shifting economies in the globalised world and in which ways can social cooperation and creativity meet in the space of indeterminate economic capacity? The emerging photographers will exchange their photographic narratives from Asia and Europe conceptualizing documentary and digital photographic formats. To promote future visions and to overcome global financial instability at the local level this process will show the diverse range of possibilities of the medium of photography."

Only 20 selected photographers will take part in this forum, through their facilitators who are from an international team.

"The Format of the Forum will consists in two phases: the first, interactive collaboration will be taking place through an online exchange between the participants and the resource persons, and the second phase will consists of an intensive week in Kuala Lumpur, where photography collaborations will be complemented with dialogues focused on the exploration and experimentation of artistic photography in the context and manifestation of the creative economies with Peter Bialobrzeski, Photographer, Professor for Photography, University of the Arts, Bremen, (Germany), Shahidul Alam (Bangladesh), director of “Chobi Mela” - International Festival of Photography, Alex Moh (Malaysia) initiator of the Kuala Lumpur International Biennale, Yee I- Lann (Malaysia) multimedia artist and many more."
Who can apply?

“Creative Economies” Asia-Europe Emerging Photographers’ Forum 2009 (Online Collaboratory and Forum in Kuala Lumpur, 11-18 May 2009) is geared at young photographers or final year students.

20 photographers (10 from Europe and 10 from Asia) will be selected through recommendation criteria by a board of photographers, lecturers and specialists in the field of photography. The applying candidate should:

  • Be national of an ASEM member country (Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Bulgaria, Cambodia, China, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Laos, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mongolia, Myanmar, the Netherlands, Pakistan, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Thailand, United Kingdom, Vietnam).
  • Be between 25-35 years of age.
  • Possess a good ability to communicate in English, which is the working language online and during the workshops.
  • Have a keen interest in exchanging thoughts and visions with other photographers from other countries and backgrounds. Potential candidates should have an interest in developing linkages between photography and economy. Documented interest for European artists in the Asian photography scene and vice versa would also be valuable.
  • Possess an interest in collaborative work and cross-cultural exchanges and productions. Prior relevant experiences and/or projects as well as participation and interest in local and international artists’ networks are an asset.
  • Shows of interest in and commitment to participating in a two months online collaboration. The photographer commits to regularly engage in an exchange with the group and an assigned team with the final goal of the creation of an online exhibition.
  • Be willing to contribute to the discussions in the workshops and the final production of an exhibition without any fees involved.
  • The project is especially looking out for young photographers who are active in the local and/or international networks and keen to continue collaborations within Asia and Europe on a long term basis and to share information and networks with like-minded professionals.
For more information please visit : ASEF.org
Submissions must be received by 10 March 2009.




Wednesday 4 February 2009

Lana Ṧlezić at Canada House : Featured Artist


I took some time off to pay a visit to Trafalgar Square to photograph the lying snow that covers the whole of London currently. It is such a rare sight for us that it warrants a freezing train ride and slow and treacherous walk along icy pavements to get there. The fountains were frozen and tourists were snapping away in the crisp morning light.

As I walked by Canada House adjacent to the Square, I noticed there was a photography exhibition going on in their gallery space and ventured in.


Lana Slezic is a daughter of a Croatian family that emigrated to Canada in the 60s. After studying at the University of Western Ontario Lana took 6 months travelling across Asia and then returned to Canada to study photojournalism in 1999. She is now an independent photojournalist covering stories for various journals, and magazines, and has won numerous awards in her documentary images including 3rd Place in the World Press Photo Awards 2008 for Portraits.


Her show, Forsaken documents the life of normal Afghani women. In her own words:

"In the end, it is the women and girls who suffer the most. It was my greatest privilege to share in their lives and learn from their often earnest and palpable stories - hearth breaking on so many occasions and hopeful in few. This is a selection from the body of work which was published in September 2007. Forsaken tells the stories that Afghan women cannot tell themselves.''
The photographs are very personal and close to the subject, much like Chang Chien-Chi's images, but because they are in colour, it has a further sense of realism. Her use of faded colours and subdued lighting only heightens the palette of a nation in distress, with much of desperation and hope.Her portraits are candid and well composed, and her story-telling text is compelling.



'Masema is a police woman in Kabul, whose responsibilities involves investigating cases involving women.'


'Gulsuma was 4 years old when her stepfather sold and married her off to a six year old boy's family in Kandahar. She was beaten, isolated and treated as a slave for the next 7 years by his family until she escaped one night when her stepfather threatened to kill her. Today at 11, she is the only female in an orphanage in Kandahar.'



'Malalai is one of the only police woman in Kandahar. Unlike other women in the region, Malalai works alongside men, apprehending criminals and restoring justice in one of the most dangerous cities in the nation. When working outside her home and office she is always armed beneath her burka.'


'Women shop for clothes at a market at Mazar-e-Sharif. Beneath their burkas, those who can afford to, pay close attention to the latest fashions.'


'With no other place to go, young girls play in an old destroyed building in Kabul, built by the Soviets before the Taliban regime. The building is now home to 105 families who returned from Pakistan three years ago. The men are virtually unemployed and struggle day to day to feed their families.'


'Wind blows through a makeshift school in Kabul'

All images ⓒ Lana Slezic

Forsaken
Canada House Gallery
Trafalgar Square
London, SW1Y 5BJ
Telephone: 0207 258 6421
Fax: 0207 258 6476
November 27, 2008 – February 20, 2009
Monday to Friday, 10:00 – 18.00 (17:30 for last admission)

Monday 2 February 2009

No Planes, Trains, or Automobiles...


The last major snowfall in London was in 1991, and this is worse..or better, depending on your point of view. It is still falling, and we already have 7 inches locally. I know, I know, you Canadians or Russians get it far worse, but the Brits are not prepared for even 1 inch of the white stuff. Just heard that all the South East airports are closed with over 600 flight cancellations. Now that's a lot of irate passengers if you do the maths. Can't really blame the airlines, as the passengers cannot get to the airports because there are no trains, buses, or tube. Private cars are warned not to venture out unless it is absolutely necessary as the side roads aren't cleared. So its best to snuggle up at home and watch TV.

We managed to get out first thing to the adjacent park and got some snaps of the local neighbours making snowmen and playing fetch with their surprised dogs. Everyone was really happy and friendly, greeting each other "Good Morning!'' which is highly unusual here..it must the best recession-buster so far, to cheer the nation up from the gloomy economic news we get each day. There was even an impromptu snowball fight in the side street between total strangers..as the snow had made these roads impassable to most except those with four-wheel drive vehicles and a death wish.






All local schools are also ordered to shut as parents take their chidlren off to the parks sledding. I will try to walk in to Central London later to get some more photos of notabel landmarks. If I don't return, send out a search party!

Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!


London is currently experiencing the heaviest snowfall for 18 years! It started falling last evening and right through the night as well. More pictures to come! This morning, we woke up to about 6 inches of the white stuff! Unfortunately, the Brits are never good at these things, unlike the Europeans. So, roads are blocked, trains stop running, airports closed, no buses, schools closed..yippee..