Photobook Conversations

Belfast Photo Factory ‘Photobook Discussions’ are an opportunity to celebrate photobooks as physical, tangible objects and bring together people who share an interest in the concept, form, and design of these works of art.

We are delighted to include two books for discussion during the Belfast Photo Festival, 2022:

‘Ravens’ by Masahisa Fukase, which features work made between 1975 and 1982, first published in 1986 and recently by MACK in 2017. Regarded by many as one of the most important photobooks to leave post-war Japan, the grainy black and white images contribute to a compelling narrative, which continues to inspire today.

And…

‘The Pillar’ by Stephen Gill, featuring work made between 2015 and 2019, published by Nobody Books in 2019. With this extraordinary book, Gill pushes the boundaries of “nature” photography by handing authorship to the subjects of his fascinating art.

Both books share a theme, perhaps an obsession, where we as readers witness two works of art in which poetic narratives magically unfold, featuring a mesmerising cast of wild birds.

During this informal Zoom conversation, each book will be shown and introduced by Richard Gosnold and Ilinca Vanau. There will be an opportunity for the audience to contribute to the discussion.