Encuentros Abiertos – Festival de la Luz
It would suffice to say that Encuentros Abiertos – Festival de la Luz is about photography. Its focus is on promoting artistic photography with artists from Argentina and other interesting artists from around the world, exhibiting creative photography within some of the most important museums, cultural centres and art spaces across the country.
This major event has turned into an occasion of great interest for a wide public and is today, the most important festival in the country and one of the most prestigious of Latin America. Taking place every two years in Argentina the festival organises various lectures, workshops, panel discussions, presentations, contests and more in Buenos Aires and other cities around the country. Festival de la Luz itself is a group of 27 photography festivals worldwide – from Ballarat to Denver, to Brazil, France, Korea, Russia and more, with the goal of creating and strengthening international bonds with cultural institutions. Festival de la Luz has created a new path for photographers around the world, emphasising international cooperation and creativity.
From early to late August, Festival de la Luz will host six different categories of events including exhibitions, ‘week of encounters’ (conferences and roundtables), portfolio forum (meeting place), actions (calls, contests, video art), workshops and photographic soirees which will see various screenings from local and international artists.
This year’s artists are as diverse as ever, and centre on the theme of ‘traces of unreality’. “Photography, by their authors, can bring many different unrealities if we think unreality as a different reality … Another point of view. Another way of thinking. Another dream… “ writes the Festival de la Luz. Artists who will explore this concept come from around the world, and include Jorge Luis Campos (Brazil), Wei Bi (China), Jadikan (France), a collection curated by Jay-Hyun Seok (Korea), Alicia Savage (USA), Domitila Modesti (Nigeria) and Gerard O’Connor and Marc Wasiak (Australia) who exhibited Victoriana. Pleasure Garden.
Many of these artists, and more, will be hosting the various workshops and conferences that are part of the festival. Jay-Hyun Seok, for instance, will lead a conference on contemporary Korean photography, Chun Wai will also lead a conference on ‘exploring unfamiliar Asian photography’. Films from Germany and France will also screen, as well as a special screening, Grete, the sideways glance, directed by Pablo Zubizarreta and Matilde Michanié of Argentina.
A main focus of this year’s event is Victoriana. Pleasure Garden by O’Connor and Wasiak – a photo series with a fantastical take on an extravagant 19th Century garden party. It’s a fusion of high fashion, art and culture, with a remarkable attention to detail. Victoriana was created in the heritage rooms and gallery at Tasma House and gardens in Daylesford, Victoria. The unique project drew inspiration from the lavish garden parties held by the Sargood family in the late-nineteenth and early twentieth century. The Victoriana aesthetic of the house and its surroundings – wisteria arbours, lavender, fruit trees and an ornamental pond – was the perfect location that enhanced the portrayal of the ‘pleasure garden’ theme. The extravagant shoot featured the Sargood family and guest entertained by a sumptuous feat, lawn games, fortune teller, and fantastical creatures. fluoro’s creative partner HM. were commissioned to create a look and feel and collateral for the photographic series.
Festival de la Luz 2016 promotes and shares the work of photographers from around the world, who inturn share with us their perspective of unreality, explain their influences, motivations, and raison d’être.
Festival de la Luz 2016 is on now until Tuesday 30 August 2016.
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