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.