This book is a confrontation to the inner human. Human organs are displayed under a soft light, almost in real size. There is a lot of doors open for interpretations, but the dialog here is almost silent. The acceptance of our inner contents as knowledge, but also as a possible failure who needs to be torn apart, is a reflection of the duality of existence.
“I would choose carefully a black and white film in smooth and soft light in an attempt to protect the viewers from strong visual stimulation and guide them to break through the visual appearance in their minds to find the connotation.”
Also the exceptional very high quality of prints (four tones: black and three shades of grey), and the large size of the reproductions, make this book a reference. The book contains also: an introduction, an interview conducted by Maija Tammi and a table of plates, both translated in English, Chinese and Japanese.
KLACK “咔攝影文化誌”is a photographic magazine that takes a critical approach to examining the theory and culture of image making. Based in Hong Kong, the bi-lingual publication offers alternative ways of thinking about the various kinds of photography in different contexts, from journalism to advertising, and the different implications on a personal and societal level.
Volume 4 is dedicated to the theme of Salon. “What is “Salon”? Different people would have a different definition for it. Today in Hong Kong, this term is mostly referred to activities in some photographic societies, including shooting flowers and birds, and even widely thought as shooting activities of beautiful girls with a group of ten or more photographers. People who know about the art history, would reference it back to the French “Salon”, which was a high-class exhibition of artworks. People would choose a room and hang up artworks all over the wall for appreciation. If this is the origin of the term “Salon”, it would be interesting for us to explore the evolution and the misinterpretation of “Salon” from a high-class activity back then to what it stands for in Hong Kong today with its negative connotations of “Lung Yau” (Salon photographers/fanatics), “Da Jeuk” and “Da Nui” (shooting bird and shooting beautiful girls like a hunter). However, the point of talking about Salon is not only about such a stereotyping of the Hong Kong-style photography. On the contrary, it is meaningful because it actually deeply relates to the development of photography and a photographic aesthetic in Hong Kong.”
Contributors: Ki Wong, Hin Lai, Lin On-yeung, Firenze Lai, Kalen Lee, Alanie Wong, Keith Chiu, Magdelen Wong, Ashley Chan, Mak Fung, Lau Chi-lap, Fong Ming, Tony Yu, Edwin K. Lai, Sylvia Ng, Matthew Kwan, Blues Wong, Dio Wong, John Choy, Vik, Lung Kwan-yee, MissBean, Clement Mak, laikakit (ablackeye), Fanny Cheuk Sui-wai, Mitsu Hana, Cat Ong, hott
When Jacob Aue Sobol was 20 years old his father was killed in an accident, aged just 40. As Jacob turned 40 himself, he began to reflect on the body of work he had created over the past 20 years that his father never got to see. “I had spent twenty years of my life with my father, and twenty years without him,” says Sobol. His book, With And Without You, is a deeply personal reflection on the past 20 years, and is dedicated to his father. “Since it was shortly after my father’s death that I took a serious interest in photography, I saw it as a chance to show him what I had experienced over the previous twenty years. The book is a tribute to him, and all the emotions and anxiety churned up in the wake of his death.”
More information: www.threeshadows.cn/jimei-arles
