Photo Book 2017

Special Guest: Tomasz Laczny

40/place which does not exist

 

March 11 - April 23, 2017

 

The Forum für Fotografie is proud to present Photo book 2017, a selection of the photo book production in German language published in the year 2016.

 

Benteli/Imprint der Braun Publishing
Buchhandlung Walther König
drittel books
Edition Braus Berlin
Hatje Cantz Verlag
Hirmer Verlag
Kehrer Verlag
Kerber Verlag
Kodoji Press
Lars Müller Publishers
Lehmstedt Verlag
Michael Kominek
modo Verlag
Peperoni Books
Photo Edition Berlin
Prestel/Random House
Schirmer Mosel Verlag
Spector Books
Steidl Verlag
Verlag Edition Lammerhuber
Verlag Kettler
Verlag Scheidegger & Spiess
White Press

 

 

Tomasz Laczny. 40/place which does not exist

 

"40" is about a personal journey to the country which does not exist. In 1975 the last African colony, Western Sahara, was invited by Morocco and many of the population forced to leave their country. Even though under international law the invasion was illegal and that in 1991 Morocco agreed to referendum, the Saharawi people are still waiting for a resolution to this conflict. This is a photographic book about the Saharawi people who live in refugee camps in Algeria. They have waited 40 years to return to their homeland of Western Sahara. The camps are located near Tindouf in Western Algeria at a place called “The Devil’s Garden’. I visited the Saharawi refugee camps by chance. The book is my personal diary. This journey changed my point of view of many different things. It definitely taught me a lot about patience and human dignity. It was an unforgettable journey both mentally and physically. The book contains a combination of photographs from the camps as well as graphics based on satellite images of the camps from space. There are two titles for this book ‘40’ which refers to the number of years the Saharawi people have been waiting to return to their homeland and ‘The place which does not exist’ (in Arabic) which refers to their current political status.

 

Tomasz Laczny was born in Poland, studied art and design and philosophy. In his works he deals with complex issues of identity, belonging and connection. He is interested in creating photobooks mainly. He recently published a photobook “40” about refugee camps and conflict in Western Sahara. The book has received honorable mention in 2016 Dummy Award Kassel competition. He is currently working on his next photobook "Dis-Appearance". He lives and works in London.

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