"Connecting Pages: Photobooks from South Asia" ExhibitionLumenvisum

An intriguing photography book exhibition titled "Connecting Papers: Photobooks from South Asia" is about to make its debut in Hong Kong, marking the exciting prelude to the 3rd edition of the Hong Kong Photobook Festival in the coming year. Organized by Lumenvisum and curated by Ms. Anshika Varma, the founder of India's Offset Projects, who specially traveled to Hong Kong, together with Ms. Michelle Chan, one of the founders of local art group Phokobo, the exhibition draws together three South Asian initiatives by inviting them to bring photographic works from their respective communities. It presents the diversity and richness of works by independent artists and photography publishing groups in the South Asian region from a unique perspective. The exhibition explores the connection between photographic art and South Asian culture, history, and social issues, leading the audience into the wondrous world of photography books.

Over the past 20 years, photobooks from the South Asian region have gained prominence, showcasing a sense of urgency that transcends time and space in exploring the possibilities of books. The encounters among photography book creators not only symbolize the beginning of relationships but also serve as an inspiration for coexistence, sharing, and dialogue with readers. Curator Ms. Michelle Chan expressed her deep fascination with the power of photobooks to connect people and her admiration for the diverse community associated with photobooks in South Asia. These communities demonstrate a keen sense of producing photobooks, dexterity in skills, and reflection and insight into the books themselves. These include, but are not limited to Offset Projects from India for their collaborative book-making, photo.circle and Nepal Picture Library for their dedication to archiving cultural history, and Tasveer's pioneering efforts in Pakistan. These communities engage in dialogues through the evolution and development of photography, exploring identity construction through themes of family and offering unique satirical, critical, and investigative perspectives on patriarchal systems and religious taboos.

This exhibition is like a "living book object," vividly showcasing the importance and influence of photobooks in contemporary society to the Hong Kong audience. During the exhibition, Lumenvisum will host related activities, including photobook workshop, curator-guided tours, photobook sharing session, and online panel discussion, inviting the audience to engage in conversations and share experiences with curators and artists.

More Details: https://www.lumenvisum.org/