Edited by Terry Kurgan and Tracy Murinik, ‘Wide Angle: Photography as Participatory Practice’ is a wide-ranging collection of essays in response to the subject of participatory photographic practice. Acknowledging that the political and ethical status of photography is never uncomplicated terrain, contributors to this volume engage with questions about power relations in participatory practice; the nature of negotiations between a project and its funders or partners; the aesthetic dimensions of a socially engaged practice; as well as intentionality, negotiated reality and ‘utopian’ pursuits.
‘Wide Angle: Photography as Participatory Practice’ is a wide-ranging collection of essays in response to the subject of participatory photographic practice. Acknowledging that the political and ethical status of photography is never uncomplicated terrain, contributors to this volume engage with questions about power relations in participatory practice; the nature of negotiations between a project and its funders or partners; the aesthetic dimensions of a socially engaged practice; as well as intentionality, negotiated reality and ‘utopian’ pursuits. Wide Angle is in many ways a provocation: to rethink and critically expand the definition, uses and possible meanings of participatory photographic practice, especially in relation to professional practice, teaching, funding and theoretical work on the subject.
The contributors to this virtual volume are David Andrew, Jennifer Bajorek, Vincenzo Cavallo, Natasha Christopher, John Fleetwood, Kelly Gillespie, Brenden Gray, Henrike Grohs, Sam Hopkins, Stefan Horn, Doung Jahangeer, Terry Kurgan, Zen Marie, Peter McKenzie, Santu Mofokeng, Thato Mogotsi, Molemo Moiloa, Thenjiwe Nkosi, Juan Orrantia, Kaj Osteroth, Naadira Patel, Ruth Rosengarten, James Sey and Anthony Schrag. The publication is edited by Terry Kurgan and Tracy Murinik, and initiated by the GoetheInstitut Johannesburg, in collaboration with the Wits School of Arts and the Market Photo Workshop.
Wide Angle will launch at 2pm, Saturday 12 September, at the Fourthwall Books stand, FNB Joburg Art Fair