1000
Words is greatly honoured to announce our next workshop with the
Ukrainian artist/photographer Boris Mikhailov in Fez, Morocco (5-9
November 2012). This is a very rare occasion to learn from one of the most
highly-regarded contemporary photographers from the field of art and documentary.
"As a photographer with unofficial authority I discover, I observe, I clandestinely stalk." Boris Mikhailov
"As a photographer with unofficial authority I discover, I observe, I clandestinely stalk." Boris Mikhailov
BORIS
MIKHAILOV:
Born in 1938, Boris
Mikhailov is one of the most important photographers to have emerged
from the former USSR. Starting photography in the 1960’s his work
transgressed the moral and political dictates of the Soviet Regime.
Although often engaged in the social disintegration affecting his country his work is subjectively
rooted, dealing with the profound concerns of vulnerability and
mortality. He has exhibited in numerous galleries and museums around
the world notably the Tate Modern, Saatchi Gallery, MOMA, and The Photographers’ Gallery, London. His projects Case History, The Wedding, Unfinished Dissertation, Look at Me I Look at Water, have
been published as books. Boris Mikhailov was the recipient of the prestigious Hasselblad
Award in 2000 and the Citibank Photography Prize in 2001.
ABOUT
THE WORKSHOP:
The
1000 Words Workshop takes place in an authentically restored riad
situated in the medieval medina, at the heart of the beautifully
evocative city of Fez, Morocco. The workshop will be an intense
experience lasting five days between 5-9 May 2012 and will consist of
12 participants. The medina is a vibrant labyrinth that will permeate
all the senses. Surrounded by the Atlas Mountains, it offers a
visually stunning backdrop for this truly unique workshop.
We
are looking for a diverse range of participants who understand the
work of Boris Mikhailov and feel that their own art will benefit from
his guidance.
PRACTICAL
INFORMATION:
The
cost of the workshop will be £1250 for 5 days. Once participants
have been selected they will be expected to pay a non-refundable
deposit of £500 within two weeks. Participants can then pay the rest
of the fee according to deadlines (see below). Participants are
encouraged to arrive the day before the workshop begins for a welcome
dinner. The price includes:
-tuition
from Boris Mikhailov (including defining each participant’s project;
shooting; editing sessions; creating a coherent body of work;
creation of a slide show; projection of the images of the
participants.)
-a
welcome and farewell dinner
-lunch
everyday and snacks during the afternoon
-24
hour help from the 1000 Words team and an assistant/translator with
local knowledge.
Participants
will be expected to make their own travel arrangements and find
accommodation, which in Fez can range from £150 upwards for the
week. We can advise on finding the accommodation that best suits you.
Remember that most of your time will be spent either at the riad or
shooting. For photographers using colour film we will provide the
means for processing and a scanner. Photographers shooting digital
will be expected to bring all necessary equipment. Please note that
for the purposes and practicalities of a workshop, digital really is
advisable. All participants should also bring a laptop if they have
one. Every effort will be made to accommodate individual technical
needs.
ABOUT US:
The organisation’s flagship is 1000 Words, an online magazine dedicated to contemporary photography in the UK and beyond. It reviews exhibitions and photobooks and publishes interviews, essays alongside carefully curated imagery, often around a particular theme. We are committed to showing the work of lesser-known but significant photographers alongside that of established practitioners in the aim of bringing their work to a wider audience. Often incredibly diverse in terms of subjects, concepts, styles and techniques, yet whilst always foregrounding the subjectivity of documentary art photography, 1000 Words intends to explore the limits and possibilities of the medium.
Released quarterly, the magazine attracts over 140,000 unique visitors from more than 120 countries every month. In May 2010 the 1000 Words Blog was ranked at number 3 in The Top 25 UK Arts & Culture Blogs as part of a survey carried out by Creative Tourist and was also named as the winner of Arts Media Contacts’ Photography Blog of the Year Award, 2010.
Yet 1000 Words is much more than just an online magazine. 1000 Words also operates a programme of exhibitions and events including workshops, artist talks, portfolio reviews, prizes and awards.
1000 Words is governed by its board of directors who play an active role in the direction of the organisation. They are: Camilla Gore, Nicholas Barker, Simon Baker, Aron Morel, Louise Clements, Tim Clark, Michael Grieve and Norman Clark. The 1000 Words Workshops are organised by Tim Clark, founder and editor-in-chief at 1000 Words and Michael Grieve, 1000 Words deputy editor, senior lecturer at Nottingham Trent University and a photographer represented by Agence Vu.
TESTIMONIALS:
"I
have had the most profoundly moving, fascinating, difficult,
wonderful week of my life. Thank you 1000 Words. Words can not
describe. I have been continuing with my project. It feels different
here, of course. And much slower progress. But still shooting with
the same or similar mindset. All connected to what I did in Morocco.
Really, really missing everyone. I feel privileged, truly, to have
been part of it. Have been in the countryside with my parents since
getting back and finally showed my mum the slideshow, with music that
had been spinning around my head. She cried." Laura
"The
Erik Kessels workshop in Fez has been a fantastic and motivational
experience that I will carry with me my whole life." Andy
"The
choice of city (Fez) to develop such an educational and inspirational
workshop is amazing, since the immersion begins as soon as you
arrive. You are induced to leave your comfort zone and search for new
references and perspectives, and given that the culture and language
are so unique they also become great ingredients in this creative
quest. The whole infrastructure offered during the workshop and also
the specific venue where the meetings and tutorial activities took
place were all part of the environment, serving to create a peaceful
and harmonic atmosphere that continuously inspired us all during the
workshop." Alan
“Antoine
D’Agata workshop in Fez was a mind shaking experience, and for me
that was just what I needed! Antoine’s repeated question to me was,
"but what do you want?" What a simple question it may seem
but to truly honestly answer this was one of the hardest things.
Antoine struggled with me daily to be truthful to the process of
shooting and to my work. Trying to do this as a white woman in a
muslim foreign country seemed scary at first. But soon enough this
fear pushed me to go farther than I had before. To take more risks
and be more bold. In the end, I had allowed myself to befriend men
and women who were at first just strangers on the street. My once
beautiful but safely intimate portraiture became more real for me,
evoking not only the fear of letting myself leap in a strange place
but in the process of doing so, being able to see so much more in
others.
The
workshop venue was such a treat and incredible place to be able to go
to every day. A sanctuary to rest and to edit and collect your
thoughts. A place to run into your fellow work shoppers and bounce
around ideas. The food was more than I had expected and in fact
pretty much the best food I ate in Morocco in my three weeks travel.
Tim and Michael were so on top of the workshop; they were there
managing every detail from accommodations, food, coordinating the
class meetings, running film to labs, scanning, and even just being
sweet and kind pals to talk with about your day or have a beer with
and brainstorm about your project.
All
in all, this workshop could not have been better and I feel so lucky
to have had such an opportunity. Antoine’s phenomenal out of the box
thinking and honesty is one of a kind. 1000 Words’ workshops fall
into the 'do not miss this' category!” Katie
HOW
TO SUBMIT:
We
require that you send 10 images as low res jpegs and/or a link to
your website, as well as a short biography and statement about why
you think it will be relevant for you to work with Boris (approx. 200
words total). Submissions are to be sent to
workshops@1000wordsmag.com with the following subject header:
SUBMISSION FOR 1000 WORDS WORKSHOP WITH BORIS MIKHAILOV.
01 October 2012: Deadline for applications
03 October 2012: Successful candidates contacted
12
October 2012: Deposit due (£500)
31
October 2012: Second installment due (£750)
04
November 2012: Arrive in Morocco for welcoming dinner
05
November 2012: Workshop begins
