PH21 Gallery

Current exhibitions newsletter

Forward the tradition

A curated international photography exhibition

December 19, 2019 – January 11, 2020, Main Gallery

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The history of photography is the history of the continuous invention and renewal of the expressive repertoire of creative photographic communication. A number of genres rely on staging and directing, while straight photography and street photography seeks to create photographic meaning without prearranging the world in front of the camera. Some genres, such as portraiture and still life may incorporate both major approaches. We often identify the genre of the image just by looking at it, because we recognise the identifying features of the genre. For this exhibition we ask photographers to reflect on genres with photographic means. We are looking for photographs whose genre category is apparent by looking at the image, because of the creative use of the visual traditions of the genre. Experimental works that renew and challenge our understanding of photographic genres are also welcome.

Allison Morris

What Is Hidden by What We See

December 19, 2019 – January 11, 2020 (Project Room)

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“What Is Hidden By What We See” is a body of work exploring the norms and expectations that construct and constrain the feminine body. This series of self-portraits presents the artist’s body in monstrous, amorphic, and covered forms that blur the line between woman and object, challenging the boundaries of the feminine body and what it represents. Taking inspiration from historical, mythological, and religious representations of women, these forms aim to create a sense of voyeuristic intrigue as well as repulsion in its audience, drawing attention to the fear surrounding feminine nature, sexuality and strength. They raise the question of what these concealed figures reveal about what lies beneath.

Call for Entries

Feminine / Masculine

A curated international photography exhibition

February 13 – March 7, 2020, Main gallery

Portrayals of femininity and masculinity are, without doubt, central to a number of art forms, photography not being an exception. The past few decades have given rise to – often heated – discussions and criticisms of past, recent, and current photographic practices for their lack of reflection on the assumptions, stereotypes, and prejudices surrounding photographic approaches to femininity and masculinity. Fine art and commercial works alike have been critiqued for the potential consequences of their approach and presentation. Historically femininity and masculinity have been conceived, among others, as oppositions, as complements of each other, or as positions on a continuum. There are hardly any ways of portraying femininity and masculinity that would or could not be considered trivial, conservative, pretentious, demeaning, distasteful, clichéd or even offensive by some. It often seems that everything has been both said and photographed about this subject, and yet, it is not possible to ignore the persistence of the theme in our contemporary visual culture. What is it that we can still value and possibly revive from the rich history of photography; are there any novel ways left to approach this subject with a fresh critical eye?

PH21 Gallery invites photographers to submit their work for a group exhibition themed Feminine / Masculine. We are looking for submissions from all photographers who are interested in this subject and would like to share their work with a wider international audience through the exposure of PH21 Gallery. The theme is broadly construed, as the photographic portrayal of femininity and masculinity is independent of generic or stylistic constraints. Indeed, we are interested in all possible creative photographic interpretations of the theme.

Submission deadline: January 20, 2020