The Photo Vault: A journey into Vernacular Photography, Archives and Photobooks

In this episode of The Photo Vault, we receive book recommendations from the Istanbul-based artist Cemre Yeşil Gönenli. Her book choices are varied and full of emotional connections to her own journey of becoming a photo artist. Listen to her colourful stories of how books can inspire and change your perspectives. Listen also to a previous episode where we talk with Cemre in detail about her practice and what it’s like to work as an artist in today's Turkey.

References:

• The Chain Chien-Chi Chang
• Sophie Calle take care of your self
• Alec Soth Niagara Steidl / Mack 2nd Edition
• Elliott Ewitt - Le petit monde

Cemre’s Books:

• Hayal & Hakikat: A Handbook of Forgiveness & A Handbook of Punishment -
• Double Portrait
• For Birds sake

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In this episode, we meet Thweep Rittinaphakorn, also known as Ake, in Bangkok, and explore his collection of photographs from Myanmar during the colonial era. Ake is an expert in Myanmar textiles who ventured into collecting photography and released a photobook from a very different background. His collection is fascinating and multi-layered, as he doesn't approach his images from a pictorial point of view but rather through an examination of materiality.

Find out more about Ake on his Instagram and check out his recently released book.

• UNSEEN BURMA Early Photography 1862-1962
• Ake's Instagram

Other subject mentioned:

• Shinbyu Ceremony

Media Links:

• Arrival of president U Nu in London
• Student Demonstration 1988
  

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In this episode, we have the great pleasure to meet with Professor Geoffrey Batchen, an expert in the history of photography. He has taught in his native Australia, the United States, and currently holds a position at Oxford in the UK as a professor of the history of art. He has curated exhibitions in renowned institutions such as the ICP in New York, the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, and the Izu Photo Museum in Shizuoka, Japan.

Geoffrey is one of the popularisers of the term Vernacular Photography through his extensive writing and involvement in the field. We recorded this conversation during a conference on Vernacular Photography organised by the Eidolon Centre in Budapest.

Geoffrey talks about how to look at images, emphasising that there is no such thing as banal, and delves into the significance of smiles in photographs. He also touches on the question of where Vernacular fits in our historical narrative and discusses the dangers of assigning financial value to everyday images.

Read more about Geoffrey Batchen's work.

Geoffrey Batchen: Forget Me Not: Photography & Remembrance

Negative/Positive A History of Photography book

Apparitions: Photography and Dissemination book

Vernacular photographies essay

Further links:

Eidolon Center Budapest

Fortpan Archive Budapest

Malick Sidibé

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In this episode of The Photo Vault, we discuss with Dutch artist and editor Erik Kessels why it is important to have an opinion and dislike things, as well as why it is most important that young artists get paid. Erik is a prolific book and exhibition maker, known for his narrative creation through appropriated images.

Take a look as well at Erik’s website and publishing page to gain a deeper understanding of his work and thought process."

Enjoy the conversation:

• Erik Kessels Website
• Instagram
• Kessel Kramer Publishing

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Follow French editor and artist Thomas Sauvin on his journey from a Chinese language student to the collector and editor of an enormous archive that he continually augments from a dumpsite in Beijing. With his project, Beijing Silvermine, he has produced humorous and intelligent publications over the last 10 years, granting us access to a specific period in time in China. Lukas met Thomas in Paris at the Beijing Silvermine studio, and in their conversation, they unravel Thomas’ reflections on his work in the past, present, and future.
Beijing Silvermine
Thomas Sauvin Instagram

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