31 July 2008

desolate

Photo: Viktor Gårdsäter

The Thinking Spot Series


Have you ever become so lost in thought
That the place became the thought,
And the thought the place?
“Have you ever stopped to think…and forgot to start again?” (Milne)


Winnie the Pooh says when you “… Think of Things, you sometimes find that a Thing which seemed very Thingish inside you is quite different when it gets out into the open and has other people looking at it.”

So show us those spots where you ponder the things
before they become thoughts you share
Where you try to solve life’s mysteries
Or just try to decide what to eat for breakfast…


We are waiting to see your special thinking spots, dear reader.
Please send pictures to gruppof-inbox@googlegroups.com

New Nordic Photography 2008 Common Grounds

Are you interested in contemporary Nordic photography? Until August 24 you can visit a very interesting exhibition at Hasselblad Center, located in the Göteborg Museum of Art. The exhibition, New Nordic Photography 2008 Common Grounds, is an annualy reccuring forum in which the Hasselblad Foundation presents works by young, recently graduated photographers.

This year New Nordic Photography consists of selected works from Erik Berglin, Annika Behm, Aida Chehrehgosha, Preben Holst, Mette Johansen, Anna Linderstam, Jim Lundin. Annett Reimer, Ulla Schildt, Tuuli Truhponen. Linda Frisk and Björn Rantil at the Hasselblad Foundation is curators.

Untitled © Jim Lundin
Father by the water / Pappa vid vatten, 2008 © Aida Chehrehgosha


"Each year, the Hasselblad Foundation awards the prestigious Victor Fellowship to a young, promising Nordic photographer. The winner is awarded a one-year postgraduate program in England. An international jury will announce its choice of this year's winner on June 13, 2008, the opening day of the exhibition.
With its exhibition New Nordic Photography 2008 - Common Grounds, the Hasselblad Foundation gathers this year's candidates in a common exhibition. The exhibition presents the nine candidates for this year's stipend, as well as last year's Victor Fellow, Anna Linderstam.
All of the photographers participating in New Nordic Photography have been individually nominated for their image quality and the strength of the projects they present. The exhibition does not have a predetermined theme and no requirement is made about the photographers' works suiting each other. The common denominator is photography. Each photographer has a personal style of expression and way of utilising this medium. The exhibition hosts a wide spectrum of works, ranging from documentary-style to staged images, as well as photographs that are a little of both. At first glance, the visitor is struck by the disparity among the works in the exhibition, but after a while some common denominators do emerge.
The words Memory and Place play a central part in this exhibition, as the photographers, among other things, examine the passing of time, childhood memories and memories of places and spaces." (www.hasselbladfoundation.org)

Hyun-Jin Kwak, earlier invited as a guest on the F blog, is one of those that earlier (2005) have been awarded the Victor Fellowship. This years winner is Preben Holst, who's work is displayed together with the other 8 nominated candidates in the exhibition New Nordic Photography 2008 - Common Grounds.

Blue mattress with raindrops, 2006 © Preben Holst

About Preben Holst from Norway, this years winner of the Victor Fellowship for his exhibition Still life, the judges Anne Williams, Programme Director for Photography, London College of Communication and Anna Fox, Photographer and Programme Director for Photography, The University for the Creative Arts in Farnham write:

"As usual the work in the New Nordic Photography exhibition is of very high standard, both in terms of its visual flare and the ideas contained within each project. Our congratulations to the curators who have done a wonderful job.

In searching for a winner we are looking for someone whose work shows that they have an original vision capable of innovation.
Preben’s work is a remarkable depiction of childhood that emerges from personal memory yet enters into a territory that touches on our collective memory - or rather fantasy - of childhood. He works, as he says himself, somewhere between anxiety and tranquillity. What is conveyed, so successfully, is a sense of the ambiguity of an almost Edenic world, aware of its own imminent demise. This body of work stands out because it is conceptually engaging as well as highly accomplished aesthetically, both in terms of its photographic quality and its skilful use of installation, bringing to life the fascinating multi layered narrative running through the work." (www.hasselbladfoundation.org)

Still life with Julie, 2005 © Preben Holst

If you don't have the possibility to visit Gothenburg and the Hasselblad Center, please check out the interesting exhibition catalogue, where both the photographers and their work are presented:

New Nordic Photography 2008 Common Grounds
Ed. Linda Frisk
Hasselblad foundation 2008
ISSN 2000-0138
ISBN 978-91-976975-1-4

For more info, please contact The Hasselblad Foundation.

- Fredrik Skott

The Snapshot Museum

Recently I've been more and more fascinated by snapshots. Tonight, when I had a late night walk around the Internet, I stumbled upon the Snapshot Museum. It's a nice little place with some lovely snapshot from the 30's to the 80's. Have a look!

/markus

30 July 2008

the incredible vehicle

In picture: The professor (enlighted) and his assistant Dr EEL are waving to the crowd after having presented their sensational invention - the incredible vehicle.




the incredible vehicle (1)




the incredible vehicle (2)

cooper

Photo: Emese Altnöder

The Professor's Thinking Spot (I)

29 July 2008

Late July

Grandma

Photographer: Johan Emanuelsson

dreaming of the olympic games.

my favourite stadium of the world. it's not big, it's not 'national' nor 'olimpic' one. it's just a small stadium in the center of warsaw, pride of the governors under comunist era, build from the ruins of the old town destroyed during the 2nd WW. now being demolished to build on it a brand new one...
a year before.
warsaw/2008

Book: The Helsinki School

During the spring some of the most interesting contemporary photographers from Finland were invited to the F blog; among them Joakim Eskildsen, Milja Laurila and Anni Leppälä are to be found. Do you find their work interesting - check out the photobook The Helsinki School. New Photography by TaiK.

"Based on the success of volume one, the latest installment of The Helsinki School represents one of the most unique approaches to the state of conceptual photography today. Volume two is dedicated to sustaining the dialogue between one generation and another who have either taught, graduated, or attended the University of Art and Design Helsinki, Finland. It will accompany an exhibition with venues all over the world. This unique, richly illustrated publication, based on a concept by Timothy Persons and Jorma Puranen also looks ahead to the emerging next generation.

Artists featured (selection): Joonas Ahlava, Joakim Eskildsen, Miklos Gaál, Veli Granö, Ilkka Halso, Nanna Hänninen, Maarit Hohteri, Tiina Itkonen, Ulla Jokisalo, Jan Kaila, Ari Kakkinen, Aino Kannisto, Sanna Kannisto, Sandra Kantanen, Pertti Kekarainen, Ola Kolehmainen, Milja Laurila, Janne Lehtinen, Ville Lenkkeri, Anni Leppälä, Noomi Ljungdell, Niko Luoma, Susanna Majuri, Arno Rafael Minkkinen, Jyrki Parantainen, Jorma Puranen, Riitta Päiväläinen, Heli Rekula, Nanna Saarhelo, Pentti Sammallahti, Jari Silomäki, Mikko Sinervo, Marjukka Vainio, Ea Vasko, Pernilla Zetterman." (www.helsinkischool.fi)

The Helsinki School. New Photography på TaiK.
Hatje Cantz, 2007
ISBN 978-3-7757-1888-2.
For more information, visit Hatje Cantz.

- Fredrik Skott

ab ovo






Photo: Emese Altnöder

28 July 2008

time






Photo: Emese Altnöder

Australian fauna


I had expected some strange animals in Australia but...

no title

Photo: Emese Altnöder

Shop Window


Photo by Jennilee Marigomen

Art Check ( edited by Art F. )

A nome del Consiglio F vi chiedo di perdonare noi per postin unappropraite immagini. Noi inizierà presto la settimana italiana. Fa caldo!

Johan Emanuelsson


www.johanemanuelsson.com
http://www.outoffocusmag.com/the-farm.html

F Art


The Professor: is it the heat, or scramble or am i just lost i translation. I see strange words right in the middle of the street... ?
Herr Strudl (interrupting) Mr Professor, is this supposed to be funny???

The Pro: ...yes, yes.. in norweigan it is called fis sjekk and in spanish pedo comprobar..haha

Herr Strutz: No, I forbid you to post such nonsens. Grow up!!
The P: it´s already done!

Herr Apfelstrutz: Where is the delete button. I have seen it. It was RED! Now go to work you lazy bums. Delete!

The P: but..but.. butt (haha)

don´t judge a book by its cover

Photo: Jan Bernhardtz

postcard from: Toronto

photo: Tatiana Bitir

Some minor observations while walking






27 July 2008

Invited Guest: Daryl Thetford- Mississippi Juke Joints

My Mississippi Juke Joint Project was an idea long before it was a reality. Given my fascination with Americana, I am often thought of as a documentary/art photographer. I tend to pick subject matter which is of historical significance and/or documents a way of life that is disappearing. I did not begin my juke joint odyssey to document the history of blues, nor is it my current intention. I was fascinated by the places, the culture, and the geography, and along the way became fascinated with the people and their stories.

Bruno’s Jukebox

Bruno's seats

Inspired in part by Birney Imes's book, Juke Joint, I knew I wanted to retrace some of his steps, however I do not live near the Delta and have no connections there. The idea of approaching juke joint owners cold and asking to take photographs was overwhelming. Enter Robert Birdsong, Clarksdale native, local historian, and tour guide. This project soon grew, as I recruited my wife, writer and painter Dana Lise Shavin to accompany me and craft an essay about the shoot.

CW’s inside

CW's outside

From an essay by my wife Dana Lise Shavin:

The history and social significance of the juke joints are intertwined with the history of the blues movement that grew out of the oppression of blacks in the early 1900’s. The original jukes (or “jooks,” as they were sometimes spelled) were sharecroppers’ shacks turned nightclubs on the weekends. It was there that black men and women were free to gather, drink, and dance, and to hear local entertainers who traveled from plantation to plantation bringing their own personal style of music with them. That music was the personal, repetitive, soulful story of hardship, inequity, and sorrow. It was the social climate of the Delta that provided the early fertile ground for the movement to put down roots.

Hopson Plantation Backstage

New World District, Clarksdale

With the Great Migration, in particular following World Wars I and II, the blues began losing its stronghold in the South even while gaining a new and unprecedented one in the North. The result was the demise of the southern juke joint in its purest form.

Po Monkey's Outside

Today, most of the surviving juke joints of Clarksdale, Mississippi are tucked away on lonely streets or in otherwise abandoned building fronts. Over the past several years, there has been a revival of interest in the blues, with the juke joint festival bringing in a devoted group of national and international music fans who, for a few days each year, pump money and energy into the local Clarksdale economy. But the rest of the year, most of the jukes struggle to hang on, catering to the local population. It was not lost on us that almost all of the juke joints Birney Imes photographed in the early 1980s and 90s are now gone.

Po Monkey's sign

To read more about the Juke Joint Project and to see more of Daryl's work please click here.
Text and photos © Daryl Thetford
invited by Rhonda Prince

25 July 2008

Face to Face (171)


The ethnic diversity of China is tremendous. The faces of the people you meet in the street are as varied as those you will meet anywhere in the world. But everywhere, there are two distinct groups--the young and the old. Two Chinas. One reflects the Cultural Revolution, one the New Prosperity.

Text and photos by William Schmidt

(F) riday again!


Yes, it's last Friday's daily print! I love it so much I wanted to show it off again. Goofy? yes. Busy? yes. Able to leap small buildings in a single bound?

No.

I have another opening/reception tonight, and another one on the 25th -- more details on my site.