Month of Photography starts new era

THE 15th year of the Month of Photography is making a break with the past. On November 3, one day after the usual marathon of exhibition openings, the organizers opened the Central European House of Photography.

James Nachtwey exhibits at House of Arts, SNP 12.
photo: James Nachtwey

THE 15th year of the Month of Photography is making a break with the past. On November 3, one day after the usual marathon of exhibition openings, the organizers opened the Central European House of Photography.

"From now on, the festival's history will be divided between before and after the House of Photography's opening," said Václav Macek, director of the Month of Photography.

Slovakia has had a House of Photography in Poprad for almost a decade. But while in Poprad photography occupies just one floor of the house, the Bratislava house, on Prepoštská 4, devotes its entire space to photos. It aims to regularly hold exhibitions as well as dedicate itself to education, publishing and archiving.

"Slovakia finally got a place that will completely serve photographers and the public. It will be an entry gate, mapping the scene in Central and Eastern European photography," said Macek.

Throughout November, the Month of Photography festival brings photographs to around 40 different locations in the capital. Several exhibitions of Slovak photographers also take place abroad. Dorota Sadovská (whose photo is on the festival's poster), Martin Kollár and Pavel Pecha exhibit in Tenerife, Miloš Boďa in Vienna and works

Martin Kollár's photos are on show at Bratislava castle.
photo: Martin Kollár

by graduates of Prague's Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts are on display in Prague.

The Month of Photography focuses its lenses primarily on Central and Eastern European photography, but also lets in photographers from around the world. This year's highlight is the American James Nachtwey, who is considered the world's greatest war photographer. Other names include Erich Lessing from Austria, Manuel Sonseca from Spain, Erik Niedling from Germany, Max Kandhola from Great Britain and Reiko Imoto from Japan. The baroque-like photographs of parks by Czech Josef Ptáček can be experienced at the Bibiana International House of Art for Children.

The festival also holds workshops and conferences, and introduces new photo publications. At the end of the month event organizers will present a book capturing the atmosphere of Bratislava through the lenses of leading Slovak photographers.

For more information on the Month of Photography's individual exhibitions visit www.fotofo.sk.


By Zuzana Habšudová

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