Photo Book Review – A Pound of Pictures: Alec Soth’s Eclectic Ode to the Photographic Medium “A Pound of Pictures” presents a captivating journey through the lens of acclaimed photographer Alec Soth, showcasing a new and unique collection of work produced between 2018 and 2021. This stream-of-consciousness celebration of the photographic medium takes readers on a winding road trip of imagery, capturing a diverse array of subjects that range from the enigmatic allure of Buddhist statues and birdwatchers to the carefree spirit of sun-seekers and the stoic presence of busts portraying Abraham Lincoln. Through this book, Soth reflects on the profound desire to capture and immortalise experiences through printed images,…

Stunning Photo Book Review – Unveiling the Enigmatic: Torbjørn Rødland’s ‘The Pregnant Virgin’ In the realm of contemporary photography, Torbjørn Rødland emerges as a luminary whose work defies conventional boundaries, inviting viewers on a journey of introspection and wonder. Renowned for his distinctive approach to image-making, Rødland’s photographs resonate with layers of symbolism, emotion, and thought-provoking narratives. With a portfolio that spans diverse genres, Rødland’s exploration of the human experience captivates and challenges in equal measure. All images – Courtesy of the artist and MACK. Born in Stavanger, Norway in 1970, Rødland’s journey into the world of photography began at an early age. His formative years were marked by a…

Photo Book Review: A Woman I Once Knew by Rosalind Fox Solomon Rosalind Fox Solomon’s A Woman I Once Knew is an evocative and deeply personal exploration of identity, memory, and the inevitable passage of time. Known for her extraordinary ability to capture the human condition through photography, Fox Solomon turns her lens inward in this book, crafting a narrative as intimate as it is universal. Through a fragmented, poetic structure, she invites the reader into her reflections on femininity, relationships, and the shifting perceptions of self that come with age and experience. This review will examine A Woman I Once Knew’s thematic depth, stylistic choices, and emotional resonance. While…

Photo Book Review – SCUM Manifesto Reconstructed: Justine Kurland’s Feminist Journey of Reclamation Justine Kurland’s “Scum Manifesto” emerges as a daring and uncompromising initiative, inspired by Valerie Solanas’ groundbreaking feminist tract, the SCUM (Society for Cutting Up Men) Manifesto. In her transformative volume, “SCUMB Manifesto,” Kurland embarks on a powerful journey of reclaiming history, dismantling the patriarchy, and subverting the male-dominated photographic canon. Through the medium of collage, Kurland disrupts the conventional narratives, questioning the imposition of straight white male perspectives in art and challenging the very essence of visual and social representation. This feminist review delves into the intricacies of Kurland’s work, exploring the potency of collage as a…

Stephen Shore’s body of work, Topographies: Aerial Surveys of the American Landscape, takes us on a mesmerizing visual journey through the diverse landscapes of Montana, North Carolina, New York, and beyond. Through a series of aerial photographs captured by drones from 2020 onwards, Shore presents an arresting portrayal of the delicate interplay between nature and human intervention in the American scenery. All images – Courtesy of the artist and MACK. Revisiting the original ambitions of the iconic 1975 exhibition ‘New Topographics,’ Shore employs a fresh aerial viewpoint to reexamine the movement’s core concerns: the objective depiction of the commonplace and the dynamic relationship between natural and man-made elements in the…

It is a rare thing these days to hold a book that doesn’t simply tell a story but becomes one in your hands. Sophie Calle’s The Sleepers, now newly published in English by Siglio Press, is exactly such an object—a book that begs not only to be read but to be held. To press your palm against its quilted, pillowy cover is to be reminded that this is no ordinary text. It is soft, like the cheek of someone you love; it gives under your fingers, like a mattress that remembers the shape of your rest. The cover is padded, yes—physically—but emotionally, too, it cushions you for the quiet interior…