Imprint

In times when cameras are ubiquitous and the general public is experimenting with the narrative possibilities of photography more than ever before, a survey of the current status and potential of the photobook is highly relevant. Not only does the photobook constitute an alternative means of display to gallery exhibitions, the book format also challenges photography's instantaneousness, and allows for an exploration of the photographic language. Books have been seminal in the distribution of avant-garde conceptual photography, as well as social documentary and political statements. But what is the status of the photobook today? Is it primarily a mainstream medium, a collector's item, or a platform for artistic experiments? Imprint is a collection of essays that delve into current practices and address the phenomenological, technological, and aesthetical possibilities for communicating through photobooks, both printed and digital.