Iets minder dan twee weken geleden ontving ik een e-mail van de Tilde Gallery in Palermo met de vraag of ik foto’s wil laten publiceren in het kunst fotoboek “Imago 4” die de galerie in eigen beheer wil uitgeven.
Inmiddels heb ik onderzoek gedaan naar deze galerie en dat lijkt een legitieme galerie te zijn.
Hoe nu verder?
Imago 4 is een publicatie in eigen beheer van Tilde Gallery die gevestigd is in de Italiaanse stad Palermo, zo bleek uit een e-mail die ik bijna twee weken geleden ontving.
Bij de e-mail zat ook een uitgebreide PDF waarin het een en ander werd beschreven over deze publicatie.
Eén van de dingen die deze publicatie aantrekkelijk maakt is dat het kunstboek louter en alleen bestaat uit foto’s.
Dat is anders dan bij eerdere publicaties in kunstboeken, want daar werd ook kunst in gepubliceerd van schilderen en beeldhouwwerken en dergelijke.
In de PDF is onder andere te lezen:
“Galleria Tilde is pleased to announce the launch of Imago 4: Contemporary Photographic Stories, a book dedicated exclusively to contemporary photographers.
Imago was conceived out of the desire to explore and document the evolution of photography as an art form, connecting its rich history with contemporary trends, and providing a platform for emerging voices in the global photographic landscape.
This editorial project is not simply a collection of images; it aims to investigate and celebrate visual language through deep historical and artistic reflection.”
Even verderop een stuk over:
“Contemporary Photography
Following this historical exploration, each subsequent volume of Imago provides an in-depth overview of contemporary photography, analyzing current trends and the new ways in which photographers interpret and utilize images in today’s digital age.
The influences and techniques that characterize contemporary photography are examined, from conceptual to documentary styles, with a focus on the global and personal themes emerging in recent works.
This section also highlights a selection of emerging photographers, creating a dialogue between past and present.
By presenting the work of artists from different generations, Imago becomes a space for comparison and reflection, offering readers a diverse and engaging visual experience.
The works of these contemporary photographers tell powerful stories that reflect both personal and universal realities, offering a glimpse into the evolving world of photography.
Contemporary photography is not just a means to document reality; it is an art form that explores the intersections of imagination, perception, and experience.
This section delves into the technological and cultural transformations that have expanded photography’s expressive language, inviting reflection on its mutable nature and profound impact in the digital age.
Through diverse approaches— ranging from conceptual experimentation to visual storytelling—contemporary photography engages both the personal and the collective, the intimate and the global. It becomes a tool for questioning identity, memory, society, and the very act of seeing.”
En ook:
“Focus on Photographic Artists
Each volume features a curated selection of contemporary artists alongside the analysis of master photographers such as Eugène Atget, exploring broader reflections on the medium’s evolution. These artists, through distinct visual languages, contribute to redefining the boundaries of photographic art.
Each artist is given space to articulate their vision, techniques, and creative journey through a dedicated biography and a portfolio of representative works.
This fosters a dialogue across generations and styles—between the legacy of the past and the urgency of the present.
This section becomes a visual conversation, offering readers a multifaceted experience through images that speak of personal stories, social tensions, poetic impressions, and conceptual investigations. These works reflect the shifting realities of the contemporary world, affirming photography’s power to narrate, challenge, and transform.”
Het valt overigens op dat er in de tekst gebruik wordt gemaakt van de zogenaamde “em dash” : het liggende langgerekte streepje “—“.
Dit is vaak een signaal dat AI is gebruikt om de tekst te schrijven en wellicht is dat hier ook gebeurd door de Italiaanse tekst te laten vertalen en corrigeren door bijvoorbeeld ChatGPT.
Ik heb echter nog wel een aantal vragen voor de galerie en die heb ik vandaag opgestuurd via de e-mail:
“Thank you for reaching out to me and my apologies for not replying to your email before due to holidays.
I’m honored you contacted me with your proposal and I’ve read it
thoroughly.
I do have some questions though which I hope you can answer for me.
1. I’d like to know a name of the person with who I am communicating with, so who is the contact person for the gallery?
2. What is the total circulation of this photo book? How many books
are printed or is it print on demand?
3. You mention Eugène Atget as the photographer to which this
photobook is dedicated. Although the submission of photos is open to any photographic theme or approach, as you wrote it, what photos exactly have you seen on my website that you think is appropriate for this edition?
4. I mainly am a portrait/fashion photographer so I always have to
work with other people. The way I work with my (parents of the) models is that I always ask permission to use their photos for, for example, a publication. That sometimes takes time, but it is never rejected. I know one question from (the parents of) the models will come: “Can I have a copy of the photobook as well?”.
You mention one copy is included, what about extra copies, what will they cost?
5. Is this photobook a primeraly and only for your galerie, or is it
also distributed to other galeries, museums and/or artcollectors?
I hope you can answer these questions for me and I’m looking forward to your answers.”
En nu maar afwachten of ik antwoorden krijg op deze vragen.
Wordt vervolgd.
Eerdere berichten over eventuele samenwerking met Tilde Galleria en “Imago 4” zijn te bekijken via deze link.