Art For Grabs ; Photography @ Art Convention 2014 (25-26 Oct @The School, Jaya One)

Thanks to Centre for Asian Photographers, Art For Grabs is presenting 22 booths of photographers displaying or selling their work. Some photographers are displaying documentation of recent obsessions from Chinese Opera to Iranian fathers and daughters, some are revealing visual diaries of their journeys through the streets of Malaysia or other countries or their minds, while a few are showcasing photographic campaigns for causes close to their hearts, like street children, refugees and, yes, dogs too. 

Together with the other displays and exhibits of the Photo Art Convention 2014 at The School, Jaya One, there is plenty to see, to learn, to think.

Also, check below for the schedule of the 4 forums discussing current issues and the latest thinking about photography and the unseen world behind the images.

ART FOR GRABS: PHOTOGRAPHY
Sat 25 & Sun 26 Oct 2014, 10am - 7pm
The School, Jaya One, Petaling Jaya
Sponsored by Centre for Asian Photographers

WHAT IS THE PHOTO ART CONVENTION?
The PhotoArt Convention is an initiative to help propagate the value of photographic art in the eyes of the public through the showcase of photographic work and display solutions as well as supporting the cultivation of the photographic community through education. We have talks on developing art process, display of art, shooting for physical medium, etc., plus exhibits and showcase of photo art, seminars & workshops, photography grading, and portfolio reviews.

More info: https://www.facebook.com/PhotoArtConvention

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Sat 25 Oct, 11am
PHOTOGRAPHERS: MASTERS OR SLAVES?
by BFM Night School

Wefies, selfies, tags and snapshots: they are the new archives of our lives. Photography lures us into a sense of mastery over our surroundings, as we are now with the capacity to document the world. But do we truly know what it's doing to us?

Is there a "reality" out there to explore and capture? Or is the technology merely giving us a false sense of knowing the world, where what we are in fact doing is just giving life to our deeply embedded prejudices and presumptions but in visual form? Are we truly representing our experiences as is, or is it all merely a new stage for our narcissism, where what is revealed is our increased alienation from the world? Is our gaze truly freer as a result of visual technology, or have we become more enslaved to that technology and the unseen visual order?

Join the Night School duo Ahmad Fuad Rahmat and Sharaad Kuttan alongside photographer-curator-activist Pang Khee Teik, arts-worker-curator Ong Jo-Lene, and artist-curator-writer Yap Sau Bin and for this insightful discussion and leave seeing ways of improving the way you see.

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Sat 25 Oct, 1pm
CHANGING VIEWS: COMMUNITY PHOTO PROJECTS

Can photography still bring about change? While many photographers’ idea of bringing about change is to reveal the truth and realities of their subjects, here we ask: can these subjects be taught instead to use photography to make their own issues visible? How can photographic skills be shared with members of affected communities in a way that enables them to help themselves? Can changing the direction of the view change views? Join three photographers Kamal Solhaimi Fadzil, Vignes Balasingam and KG Krishnan as they discuss their community projects.

Photographer Kamal Solhaimi Fadzil talks about “Kuala Lumpur Kita Je!”, a visual project that works in collaboration with undocumented/refugee children aged between 12-17 from Yayasan Chow Kit. He has been working with them over the last 8 months to produce visual images and audio material as part of an effort in advocating for the rights of the child.

Vignes Balasingam, director of Obscura Festival of Photography, talks about various projects he has been involved in, including fotoprojek which collates pictures of demonstrators’ experience of Bersih, and makes a case for building a photography project for your community.www.obscurafestival.com / www.masterclass.my

Photographer and art director KG Krishnan shares about the photo project HOME, which examines living spaces of migrant workers in Malaysia as a means of telling stories of workers living amidst uneasy and often times unsafe surroundings in pursuit of better futures for themselves and the people they'd left behind. In doing this, the idea of exploring the very concept of what a home is, and means to others started to become a more meaningful and relatable. www.kgkrishnan.com

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Sun 26 Oct, 11am
CONFESSIONS OF 3 PHOTOGRAPHY TEACHERS

Why are photography courses in Malaysia mostly taught as part of design courses? Can photography be regarded as an artform in its own right, with the ability to shape the way we look, think and live, if it is always a servant to other artforms? Can photography teachers inspire students to think of photography beyond the limits of the courses by which they are bound? Will photography ever be taught on its own? Come join this frank discussion by three of Malaysia's most internationally well known photographers who also teach.

Che’ Ahmad Azhar is a visual communication and photography lecturer at the Faculty of Creative Multimedia, Multimedia University, for 16 years. His work has been featured on the Invisible Photographer Asia (IPA) and LENS Blog The New York Times. Currently, he is working on a personal project entitled ‘Walk of Life’ – a visual documentation on the street life of Kuala Lumpur, the capital city of Malaysia. http://www.cheahmadazhar.com/

Eiffel Chong is a lecturer at Limkokwing University of Creative Technology. He graduated with an MA in International Contemporary Art and Design Practice from the University of East London and a BA (Hons) in Photography from London College of Printing. Chong is also mentor for the Goethe Institut Malaysia/Nikon Shooting Stars programme and Exposure+ Workshop. Eiffel Chong’s work considers abstract concepts of life and death through the banal details, silent landscapes and curious obsessions he observes from daily life. http://www.eiffelchong.com/

Minstrel Kuik is currently teaching Photo Essay at New Era College in Kajang. She has a bachelor degree in painting from Taiwan and a master degree in photography from France. As a social actor, Kuik continues to experience tension coming from different social bounds, identities and interests. Photography serves as the medium for her to explore social distances and attachments for its documentary and narrative quality. In 2013, she was the winner of the International Photographer Award at Higashikawa Photo Festival, Japan. http://minstrelkuik.blogspot.com/

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WHAT IS CENTRE FOR ASIAN PHOTOGRAPHERS?
The Centre for Asian Photographers (C4AP) is a photography centre based in The School, Jaya One, which focuses on providing a space for photography enthusiasts to indulge and experience photography in a casual community-centric space. Additionally, C4AP emphasizes on cultivating and propagating a heightened sense of interest and value in Asian-based photographic artwork & photo artists and is the primary motivation behind the creation of a convention.
https://www.facebook.com/thecentreforasianphotographers

WHAT IS ART FOR GRABS?
Art For Grabs is an art + activism bazaar organised by the team formerly at The Annexe Gallery. It brings together crazily creative people in Malaysia selling many stuff lovingly self-created, including art, crafts, t-shirts, accessories, food, soaps, books, zines, soft toys, poetry, causes, etc. (This time, in conjunction with Photo Art Convention, we are focussing only on photography). The bazaar is complemented with concurrent events including book launches, intellectual forums, fun workshops, movie screenings, and indie performances. A few free booths and events are also offered to those who are promoting/discussing important causes, activism, charities, and ideas.
https://www.facebook.com/artforgrabs
https://www.facebook.com/events/379946465490852/