2015 MEDIA KIT

10-31 AUGUST 2015GEORGETOWN, PENANG

From the series ‘Dark Lens’ by Cedric Delsaux

OBSCURA FESTIVAL 2015WELCOME

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OBSCURA FESTIVAL 2015 MEDIA KIT

“The aim is education, understanding

and togetherness through the premiere events that take place throughout OBSCURA.”

about obscura

OBSCURA Festival is Malaysia’s premiere photography festival that celebrates photography from Asia and around the globe.

Each year, the festival hosts a series of exhibitions, talks, workshops, professional portfolio reviews and slideshows. Also included are major fringe events, including youth photography programmes with its festival partners.

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about obscura

MALAYSIA’S PREMIEREPHOTOGRAPHY FESTIVAL.

Held in Penang, Malaysia, OBSCURA Festival is embedded within The George Town Festival, a major international festival of the arts and culture in South East Asia.

Exhibiting photographers, curators, jury members and students fly in to George Town each year in celebration of this unique, one-of-a-kind event.

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2015 programme

THE 2015 LINEUP

“With over 30 events over a 21 day period, the 2015 festival promises to be the biggest and most exciting yet.”

DATESOBSCURA Festival Exhibitions

14-31 August 2015

OBSCURA Masterclasses & Workshops

10-15 August 2015

OBSCURA Festival Professtional Week14-21 August 2015

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exhibitions

CURATION

TRUTH IMAGINARIUMSThe 2015 exhibitions is divided into two major curations showcasing bold and exciting work from the world over.

Curated by Arko Datto (IND), the ‘Truth Imaginariums’ curation features 8 photographic works, which investigate the the aspects of truth and imagined realities within the context of photography.

bold & exciting

By an Eyewitness by Azadeh AkhlaghiBoth familiar and frightening, Azadeh Akhlaghi’s powerful series depicts iconic scenes of death and murder in recent Iranian history. Here, the photographer brings togethWer history, memory and trauma not easily forgotten, bearing eyewitness to her nation’s violent past.

Love me or Kill meby Sarker ProtickSarker Protick explores the fantasy world of the fading Bangla film industry revealing the flashy and the bizarre. In a world designed to fabricate reality, Sarker rediscovers the vibrancy and life that made Dhallywood what it is.

Shauna by Sean LeeSet against the backdrop of Siem Reap’s red light district, Sean Lee walks the line between artist and subject in this arrestingly sensual series that is part documentary, part art and part performance.

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exhibitions

A Guide to the Flora and Fauna of the World by Robert ZhaoTaking a highly scientific approach to photo-making, Robert Zhao presents a catalogue of curious creatures and life-forms that have evolved in unexpected ways to cope with the stresses and pressures of a world altered by human intervention.

Jan Mayen by Cristina de MiddelIn 1911, a group of wealthy scientists set forth to ‘re-discover’ the island of Jan Mayen located off the coast of Greenland, in the hopes of finding fame and glory. Reality did not turn out as planned however, and here, through her unique brand of ‘documentary fiction’, Cristina de Middel brings us the story of how history was staged.

La Ville Noire: The Dark Heart of Europe by Giovanni TroiloIndustrial decline, rising unemployment and increasing immigration now characterise what was once the thriving town of Charleroi, Belgium. In this enigmatic and captivating series, Giovanni Troilo (ITL) invites viewers to gaze into the dark heart of modern day Europe, as depicted through his relationship with both the town’s past and present.

Dark Lens by Cedric DelsauxDescribed by George Lucas as ‘one of the most unique and intriguing interpretations of Star Wars that I have seen,’ Cedric Delsaux (FR) presents a series that features emblematic Star Wars characters, set against stark urban environments across the world.

The Tale is True by David HillardIn this emotional and highly personal series, David Hilliard (USA) deconstruct issues surrounding familial relationships, and the struggle to secure a sense of self and place in a chaotic world.

Polyspam by Cristina de Middel‘Polyspam’ is de Middel’s second exhibition at OBSCURA Festival this year. Here, she takes an unusual approach to spam, reconstructing her interpretations of common spam email ‘characters’ such as a Russian widow, Nigerian lawyer and a Spanish fortune teller.

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exhibitions

CURATION

OPEN CURATIONCurated by festival founder & director Vignes Balasingam (MYS), the Open Curation will feature three works specially put together for the festival.

This year, OBSCURA festival proudly presents works by Diana Lui, James Whitlow Delano and Waswo X Waswo.

beyond frontiers

Black Tsunamiby James Whitlow Delano

In 2011, a magnitude 9.0 earthquake struck Japan, resulting in both a humanitarian and environmental disaster that shook the nation to its core. Documenting the immediate effects of the Black Tsunami, Pulitzer Prize grantee James Whitlow Delano (USA) makes a conscious effort to record the raw initial moments, remembering where many have tried to forget.

Le Voile Essentielby Diana Lui

French-Belgian artist, photographer and filmmaker Diana Lui presents Le Voile Essentiel, or in English ‘The Essential Veil’. Guided by the obsessional photographic work on women’s costumes in Morocco by famous French psychiatrist Gaëtan Gatian de Clérambault, Lui explores the diverse and rich symbolic meanings the veil possesses and how it is worn by different people from different cultural backgrounds today.

Confessions of an Evil Orientalistby Waswo X. Waswo

Revolving around a single textual work ‘The Confessions’, a list of 101 short sentences, this exhibition by acclaimed India-based American artist Waswo X. Waswo is a humorous take on a serious question that has long held presence in India: concerns of ethics, entitlement, hegemony, and insider/outsider dynamics during encounters between foreigners and both Indians and Indian culture.

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exhibitions

TALKS

SLIDESHOW NIGHTS

A major feature of OBSCURA Festival’s programming are the slideshows curated by curators from around Asia and the world.

This year will feature 6 major curations, as well as one dedicated night featuring works produced by participants of the masterclasses and workshops. Held under the stars at the Whiteaways Arcade, all slideshows are free and open to the public.

An Intimate Affair

Belonging: All that Could have Beencurator: Marco Wiegers

Mortal life is fraught with uncertainty, yet as human beings we are nostalgic and unprepared for the changes dealt by fate. Join Marco Weigers as he explores how we confront change through the works of various photographers from Asia and beyond.15 Aug / 8pm-9pm / Venue: The Whiteaways Arcade

Photography as a Journeycurator: Ian Teh

Ian Teh takes us on a journey through long-term projects by various photographers that illustrate the ability to evoke, question and allow us the opportunity to recognise what was once taken for granted, but in fact always there. 17 Aug / 8pm-9pm / Venue: The Whiteaways Arcade

Desert Forest Seacurator: Ying Ang

In the final slideshow for this year’s festival, Ying Ang will present works prescient of a climatic shift, stories from today that foreshadow a possible future much more widespread amongst us than we dare to think.

21 Aug / 8pm-9pm / Venue: The Whiteaways Arcade

Hidden/Intimatecurator: Calin Kruse

This curation of works seeks to reveal the inner psyche of photographers through the camera turned onto themselves and their very personal surroundings. It is a peek into the inner fragility of a world that is seldom seen, into the deepest and / or darkest sides of oneself, seen through the lens.20 Aug / 8pm-9pm / Venue: The Whiteaways Arcade

Evidencecurator: Louise

Clements

In an age whereby photographic images

produced by digital technology far outweigh

those made by human hand, we have become only part of layers upon

layers of simulations and representations.

Louise Clements presents a selection

of photographers who endeavour to make

sense of this new world, in a multitude of

inspiring and vital ways.19 Aug / 8pm-9pm / Venue:

The Whiteaways Arcade

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learning

LEARNING & EDUCATION

MASTERCLASSES

The Obscura Masterclasses is one of the leading photography masterclassess in the region. The programmes being run this year owers itself to the highly successful programmes run since 2013 with some of the industry’s leading practitioners and tutors.

Each of the 2015 masterclasses has beenspecially designed from the ground up to push photographers to rethink their approach to photography.

PUSHING BOUNDARIES

Penang NOIR: Exploring the Boundaries of the Visual Languagewith Maggie Steber

Led by none legendary photographer and Pulitzer grantee Maggie Steber (USA), Penang Noir will be a creative exploration of visual storytelling using the night as the primary backdrop.

Your journey, your voice and your point of viewwith Ian Teh

Multi-award winning British-Malaysian photographer Ian Teh will share the core principles of his creative framework, providing participants with the tools required to find their own path to developping their work.

The New Narrative: Storytelling in the 21st Centurywith Diana Lui

Diana Lui is a French and Belgian artist, photographer and filmmaker of Chinese origin from Malaysia. In this highly experimental masterclass, participants will look at other forms of the visual and oral narrative to find new ways to tell stories.

• 5 or 6 day workshops• 10-16 August 2015• Class registration & briefing 9th

August 2015• 7 – 10 students per instructor• Fee USD400 – USD500• In-class and practical work• In-class 1 on 1 portfolio review• Access to all exhibitions, talks and

fringe events• Slideshow on 16th August 2015, 8pm

at the Whiteaways Arcade

DETAILS

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The Impermanent Environment: Documenting the Environment in a Time of Great Changewith James Whitlow Delano

Pulitzer Prize grantee James Whitlow Delano has documented and lived in Asia for over 20 years. This masterclass is for intermediate and advanced photographers looking to expand their visual identity, especially in environmental photojournalism.

The Photobook: Process, Product and Presentationwith Calin Kruse & Alisha Sett

Presented by leading photobook designer Calin Kruse and founding director of The Kashmir Photo Collective Alisha Sett, this masterclass is specifically for photographers on the path to publishing a book. The focus will be on editing considerations, design aspects and writing as a form of creative counterpoint to a photographic project.

LEARNING & EDUCATION

WORKSHOPS40 students from the Photography studies College in Melbourne, Australia will participate in this specially designed workshop series. This collaborative project with a higher-learning institution project is the first of its kind, and is our commitment to grow the next generation of thinkers and artists in the region.

2015 instructorsHajime Kimura, Wawi Navarroza, Sarker Protick & Leonard Pongo

learning

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photobook spotlight

SIDE EVENT

Obscura Festival proudly presents the second annual Photobook Show, a one-of-a-kind event aimed at increasing the exposure for photobooks from Asia Pacific and encouraging the next generation of photobook makers from the region.

Curated in 2015 by Daniel Boetker-Smith (AUS) and Wawi Navarozza (PHI), this year’s exciting lineup of events include:

• An international photo magazine feature• A photobook discussion roundtable• Book signings and launches• Plus a selection of over 140 individual publications

The 2015 Photobok Show promises over 140 publications from esteemed industry names such as Reminders Photography Stronghold (Japan), the Indie Photobook Library (USA), Thousandfold (Phillipines) and the Asia Pacific Photobook Archive. Many of these books are rare, out of print and/or in limited circulation, yet of huge artistic and cultural significance.

All events in the 2015 Obscura International Photobook Show are free and open to the public.

ONE OF A KIND

INTERNATIONAL PHOTOBOOK SHOW

“Collectors, lovers and enthusiasts of photobooks

are invited to be part of this unparalleled experience.”

in collaboration with

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participating artists

VIGNES BALASINGAMFestival Director Curator, Open Exhibitions

ARKO DATTOCurator, Truth Imaginariums

MARCO WEIGERSSlideshow Curator, Belonging: all

that could have been

IAN TEHSlideshow Curator, Photography as

a JourneyInstructor, Your Journey, Your Voice,

Your Point of View

CALIN KRUSESlideshow Curator, Hidden/IntimateInstructor, The Photobook: Process,

Product and Presentation

YING ANGSlideshow Curator, Desert Forest

Sea

ALISHA SETTInstructor, The Photobook: Process,

Product and Presentation

JAMES WHITLOW DELANOInstructor, The Impermanent

Environment: Documenting the Environment in a Time of Great Change

Exhibiting Artist: Black Tsunami

MAGGIE STEBERInstructor, Penang Noir: Exploring

the Boundaries of the Visual Language

DIANA LUIInstructor, The New Narrative: Storytelling in the 21st century

Exhibiting Artist, Le Voile Essentiel

WASWO X. WASWOExhibiting Artist, Confessions of an

Evil Orientalist

SEAN LEEExhibiting Artist, Shauna

SARKER PROTICKWorkshop Instructor

Exhibiting Artist, Love me or Kill Me

AZADEH AKHLAGHIExhibiting Artist, By an Eyewitness

WAWI NAVARROZAWorkshop Instructor

Photobook Show Principal Curator

DANIEL BOETKER-SMITHPhotobook Show Principal Curator

LEONARD PONGOWorkshop Instructor

HAJIME KIMURAWorkshop Instructor

DAVID HILLIARDExhibiting Artist, The Tale is True

ROBERT ZHAOExhibiting Artist, A Guide to the

Flora and Fauna of the World

CRISTINA DE MIDDELExhibiting Artist, Polyspam & Jan

Mayen

GIOVANNI TROILOExhibiting Artist, The Dark Heart of

Europe

LOUISE CLEMENTSSlideshow Curator, Evidence

CONTACTMedia enquiries: media@obscurafestival.comAll other enquiries: info@obscurafestival.com

This media kit was produced on 6 July 2015 with the most accurate information at this date. We are consistently updating our festival program with new and exciting additions; for the most up-to-date information plus exclusive interviews, blogposts and feature articles, please visit our website at: www.obscurafestival.com