Curating an exhibition about photobooks for the Visual Arts International Festival, held from November 9–29 at the esp+ gallery in Thessaloniki, was a rewarding challenge for me. I aimed to select books that span an extended period and employ diverse photographic methods.
About the exhibition:
The Photobook exhibition showcases 11 photographic books, spanning the period from the 1950s to the present day. These works come from various parts of the world and cover a wide range of themes. However, one common element runs through all of them: humanity and its activities, even when people are absent from the image. Through the photographs of both seasoned and contemporary photographers, we observe how each artist sees and captures the world around them, highlighting topics that resonate with them.
In this exhibition, Duane Michals presents a “portrait” of Paris through staged photo-stories, featuring people in emblematic parts of the city. Similarly, Garry Winogrand reveals scenes from the streets of New York and other American cities, covering the period from the 1950s to the 1980s.
Anders Petersen transports us to the authentic atmosphere of a Hamburg bar, capturing scenes of revelry and intoxication among its regular patrons. Hans van der Meer presents unusual images from amateur football matches in European fields, set against backgrounds of meadows, fields, seasides, and even workers’ housing.
Alec Soth invites us on a journey along the Mississippi River, where he documents symbols, overlooked landscapes, and people from the area. Martin Parr, on the other hand, uses his ironic and humorous perspective to indirectly critique middle-class life in England, through photos of social gatherings and family events.
It’s interesting to see how these photographers approach the concept of family differently. Larry Sultan portrays his elderly parents with warmth and realism in their California home. In contrast, Masahisa Fukase melancholically captures his challenging post-divorce years, depicting rough, black-and-white images of crows on the frozen island of Hokkaido, Japan. In a more modern approach, Peter Puklus photographs his family conceptually, examining gender stereotypes and roles within the family, often paralleling them with tools and construction elements. Alessandra Sanguinetti’s evocative photographs capture the tender relationship between two young cousins growing up together on a farm outside Buenos Aires.
Finally, Cindy Sherman raises questions about identity, self-image, and appearance through her self-portraits, exploring how our image can influence perceptions of us.
Overall, The Photobook Exhibition offers viewers the chance to see and leaf through iconic books that have left a lasting mark on the world of photography. Each book reflects the human experience, portraying people and actions that are transformed into something timeless and meaningful through photography.
Sophia Tolika
Books Featured in the Exhibition:
Masahisa Fukase – Ravens
Hans van Der Meer – European fields. The landscape of lower league football
Duane Michals – Εspace photographique de Paris, 14 septembre-18 octobre 1992
Martin Parr – The cost of living
Anders Petersen – Café Lehmitz
Peter Puklus – Hero Mother
Alessandra Sanguinetti – The Adventures of Guille and Belinda and The Enigmatic Meaning of Their Dreams
Cindy Sherman – That’s me
Alec Soth – Sleeping by the Mississippi
Larry Sultan – Pictures from home
Garry Winogrand – Figments from the real world
