Vitamin Ph: New Perspectives in Photography

Description

Photography continues to be a central part of international artistic practice. Over the past ten years it has experienced radical changes, in part due to the rise of digital technologies. Photography is now often engaged in by artists who are not just printing in a darkroom, but using the medium as a single aspect of a larger ouvre, as one of several media under exploration.Vitamin Ph focuses on diverse global developments in 'art' photography through the work of 121 contemporary artists, who were nominated by 78 international critics, curators and artists. These selections will be accompanied by a 5000 word introductory text by TJ Demos, aiming to explore ideas relevant to contemporary photography with reference to the works included in the book. In addition, the work of each photographer/artist will be introduced by a short commissioned text of approximately 500 words. Similar in concept, scope and structure to Vitamin P and Vitamin D, Vitamin Ph presents, in A to Z order, artists who have emerged, or in some instances re-emerged, in the last five years using the medium of photography.

T.J. Demos is Lecturer in the Department of History of Art, University College London. A member of Art Journal's editorial board, he writes widely on modern and contemporary art.

'Demos is absolutely right in the most crucial respects - contemporary photography oscillates between the conceptual and the committed - Vitamin Ph is a lavish and useful guide' Brian Dillon, ArtReview, October 2006 '[a] savvy, eccentric, and pointedly provocative book - Vitamin Ph catches a medium on the fly and in flux. It's a snapshot of a subject that's far too restless to stay put.' Vince Aletti, Photoworks, Autumn 2006 US quotes 'The book exhibits an impressive breadth.' Artweek, March 2007 'This remarkable survey of 121 photographers from over 30 countries demonstrates that contemporary photographers are exploring and resetting the bounds of the medium. It is truly exciting to see in one place so much creative punch, which is made more so by the thoughtful and specialist-penned essays on each artist packed with critical thought, historical comments, and theory.' Library Journal, March 15, 2007 'A lavishly illustrated guide - ' Miami Herald, December 10, 2006 'Like Phaidon's excellent volumes on painting ('Vitamin P') and drawing ('Vitamin D'), this is a comprehensive effort, representing artists from all fields (documentary, portraits, video, etc.) and 30 countries - the scale of the project and the talent of those chosen is undeniable.' The New York Post, December 24, 2006 'Essential for the tirelessly au courant - ' Photograph, January/February 2007