Presented by Three Shadows Photography Art Centre, this showcase features 24 selected photobooks from “Space on Paper – Jimei x Arles Photobook Exhibition”, originally showcased at the 9th Jimei x Arles International Photo Festival in 2023.
Initiated through an Open Call, the exhibition aimed to spotlight the evolving landscape of Chinese contemporary photobooks, endeavouring to create a wider-facing platform for these photobooks to exist on.
Three Shadows Photography Art Centre is China’s first independent organization specializing in contemporary art photography, dedicated to the presentation, promotion, discovery, and international exchange of photography. The Jimei x Arles International Photo Festival was co-established by Three Shadows and Les Rencontres d’Arles in 2015, and has since supported the creation, study, and curation of Chinese photography on the international stage.
This travelling book showcase is part of the 9th SIPF Photobook Showcase, on exhibit from 18 to 27 October 2024 at the National Design Centre.
20 October (Sun), 11am to 12pm
[About the Showcase]
Space on Paper –– Jimei x Arles Photobook Exhibition
Since its inception in 2021, “Space on Paper – Jimei x Arles Photobook Exhibition” has exhibited over a hundred photobooks from artists and art institutions worldwide. We strive to present the current state of contemporary photobooks, promote outstanding photobook creators, and establish a platform for showcasing and exchanging ideas about photobooks.
In 2023, the book exhibition received more than 200 submissions from artists, publishers, and art institutions, both in China and internationally. Out of these, over 60 handmade dummy books and more than 20 publications have been selected, representing an all-time high in both quantity and quality. The inaugural “Jimei x Arles Dummy Book Award” was established this year, aiming to encourage artistic creation through handmade photobooks.
In addition to dummy books, the exhibition also showcases a series of significant photobook catalogues from exhibitions since 2022, as well as research-oriented works and translations related to the history and theory of photography, aiming to present a more diverse and in-depth view of contemporary photography’s development.
Perhaps today, more than ever, we find ourselves in greater need of books. Photobooks also deserve our attention as a significant form of expression within the field of photography. The rich, tactile quality of paper and the visual storytelling that transcends language open up a world of possibilities for the photographic medium, presenting a series of paper-based feasts for us to enjoy.
纸上空间 — 集美·阿尔勒图书展
自2021年设立以来，“纸上空间——集美·阿尔勒图书展”已展出百余本来自海内外艺术家和艺术机构的摄影类书籍。我们力求展示中国当代摄影书的发展现状，推介优秀的摄影书创作者，建立一个摄影书的展示与交流平台。
2023集美·阿尔勒书展收到了海内外艺术家、出版社和艺术机构超过200份的投稿，其中60余本书手工书20余本出版物入选，无论是投稿的数量还是质量，都为历年来的新高。首届“集美·阿尔勒手工书奖”也于2023年设立，旨在鼓励艺术家基于手工书形式的摄影创作。
除摄影手工书之外，本次书展也呈现了自2022年至2023年一系列重要摄影展览画册，以及关于摄影史、摄影理论方面的研究型著作和翻译文献，以求更加多元和深入的展现当代摄影的发展面貌。
或许在今天，我们要比之前任何时候都更加需要书籍。摄影书作为摄影非常重要的表现形式也同样值得我们的关注，纸张丰富的物质触感与超越语言文字的图像叙事为摄影这一媒介打开了丰富的可能性，为我们呈现一场又一场基于纸面的盛宴。
[About Three Shadows Photography Art Centre]
Three Shadows Photography Art Centre, the first art space in China dedicated solely to photography and new media, aspires to be the country’s most professional and robust venue for contemporary photography. Three Shadows was established in 2007 by RongRong, a contemporary Chinese photographer, and inri, a Japanese photographer.
Three Shadows has two spaces, one is located in Beijing, the other is in Jimei district, Xiamen. The Xiamen location includes more than 3600 square meters of space. Aside from its exhibition spaces, Three Shadows also includes +3 Gallery, image production facilities, an educational program, and a cafe. Three Shadows Xiamen Photography Art Centre hosts at least four major contemporary art exhibitions annually. Every weekend, it organizes art courses, artist workshops, screenings, forums, and other events. It has established itself as a pioneering force leading the development of contemporary photographic art in southern China.
In 2015, the collaboration evolved into the annual “Jimei x Arles International Photo Festival” in Xiamen, China. The festival includes exhibitions, portfolio reviews, symposiums, a university lecture tour, a photobook market, and a variety of other events, including the “Jimei x Arles Discovery Award”, “Curatorial Award for Photography and Moving Image” and “Dummy Book Award.” It aims to become the largest and highest quality photo festival in Asia.
