near. Crit Groups aim to present and discuss your “work in progress”. In a small group – accompanied by an expert and by your peers – you present, exchange, discuss your projects during a whole day. With the feedback from each photographer and from our invited guest, you can sharpen and advance the process of the photo series you are working on.

In this crit the main focus will be to approach the photographic projects from a curatorial point of view.
Nadine Wietlisbach is interested in conceptual and politically engaging work. She’s experienced in creating an atmosphere within exhibition spaces, online or with a publication format.

Location: Winterthur
Adress: OfficeLab, Bahnhofpl. 8, 8400 Winterthur
Date: Thursday 28. September 2023

9:00 to 13:00
Number of participants: 4 persons
Language: english

The group participates to the discussions, each participant has 45min-one hour at disposal for presentation and feedbacks of his/her project.

Costs: near. members 25.–
(Coffee included)

Applications:
We will do a “random pick” of all applications.
For Nadine Wietlisbach it is important, to have a diverse group attending.

Near. members have priority, and we will have a waiting list.
Priority to members who didn’t participate in the last 2 crit groups (Nicolas Polli and Elisa Medde)
Applications for non-members is 50.–

Registrations are only open from now to 31. August 2023 at 5pm.
Application: Write an email to ann@near.li

We will get in touch with you as soon as the registrations close, you will be given the list of participants as well as additional information for the payment.

Invited expert — Nadine Wietlisbach
Nadine Wietlisbach devises exhibitions, publications and other discursive formats in the fields of contemporary photography and art. She is Director of Fotomuseum Winterthur since J2018. From 2015 till 2017 she was the Director of Photoforum Pasquart Biel/Bienne, following her post as a curator at the Nidwaldner Museum in Stans. She founded the independent art space sic! Raum für Kunst in Lucerne in 2007. Curatorial fellowship at MoCP in Chicago (2017), work for the Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia in South Africa and Mozambique (2007/2008). Winner of the Swiss Art Award 2015.

Image credit: Anne Morgenstern

 

We are thrilled to announce the winner of the near. prize 2023: Pedro Rodrigues for his project “Movement in the alpine Landscape”! The project will be presented during the next edition of the Biel/Bienne Festival of Photography, 3-26.May 2024, congratulations Pedro!

 

Composed of Lars Willumeit, Curator and future Director of Fotostiftung Schweiz, and Sarah Girard, Director of Bieler Fototage, alongside two representatives of near. committee, the jury has been impressed by Pedro Rodrigues’ exploration of landscape representation.

 

By adopting an approach that is at once contemporary, plural and playful, the winner has succeeded in anchoring a classic subject of Swiss photography in today's context. With his original blend of different media, Pedro Rodrigues has created an accomplished project that boldly questions our relationship with our environment and the Alps, while inviting viewers to reflect on the complexity of the landscape that surrounds us.

 

The performative and theatrical aspect of the work, the mastery of scale and the references made to contemporary art were praised by the jury, who underlined the relevance of the winner's approach in the current artistic context. His work demonstrates that the classic photographic theme of the landscape is still undeniably relevant today, and is constantly being renewed.

 

Thanks to all the members who submitted their works to the prize! See you next year!

Images © Pedro Rodrigues

 

 

Created on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of near swiss association for contemporary photography, the “near photographic collection” aims to materialize in a tangible collection the association's contribution to the Swiss contemporary photography scene since its inception. Its objective is to acquire, one key image for each of the hundred members the association had at its 10-year mark. Furthermore, it is intended to be preserved by a Swiss public institution or museum to endure over time, be showcased by both the association and the institution, serve as the subject of exhibitions and loans, and be accompanied by scholarly documentation.

To ensure the feasibility and sustainability of the collection, near allocates at least a tenth of its annual budget for the acquisition of new images. Fundraising efforts complement and expedite the pace of acquisitions.

To date the near. photographic collection includes images of:

Dominique Taufen, Sandrine Lagnaz, Anne-Sophie Aeby, Yann Amstutz, Graziella Antonini, Mathieu Bernard-Reymond,
Rebecca Bowring, Thomas Brasey, Sophie Brasey, Delphine Burtin, Aline d’Auria, Nicolas Delaroche, Daniela Droz, David Gagnebin-de-Bon, Matthieu Gafsou, Julien Heimann, Aline Henchoz, Vincent Jendly, Catherine Leutenegger, Brigitte Lustenberger, Olivier Lovey, Murielle Michetti, Jennifer Niederhauser Schlup, Antigoni Papantoni, Virginie Rebetez, Damien Sivier, Delphine Schacher.

And many more in the coming times…