metropolis m

At Metropolis M, we are always on the lookout for young talented artists, as is Foam Magazine in the world of photographers. Out of 800 submissions they have selected fifteen young photographers to show their portfolio in its autumn issue.

One can argue if the age limit of ‘under thirty-five’ is a too ample use for ‘young’ and whether this truly is one of the first recognitions of the photographers’ talent. For example, Katrien Vermeire already did a solo exhibition at Museum M in Leuven and Raphaël Dallaporte appears to have found a sugar daddy in Foam this year by being awarded the Foam Paul Huf Award 2011, gaining a solo exhibition at Foam and being part of the fall Talent issue and exhibition. Editor Marcel Feil defends his decision by expressing a preference for displaying artists that they consider to be not just talented, but true talents.

Luckily, most of the photographers are a lot younger then thirty-five and the publication will definitely give them wider international exposure. The Dutch Foam editors have succeeded in making a worldwide selection, without too much emphasis on Europe, and also focussing on Asia and North and South America, displaying the magazine’s international ambition.

Some Dutch pride can be found in young photographers Fleur van Dodewaard and Florian van Roekel (both were also spotted in 2010 at the yearly academy graduation series on metropolism.com at the KABK and the Gerrit Rietveld Academie). Fleur van Dodewaard makes powerful autonomous compositions and is not so much interested in the photographic representation of reality. And Florian van Roekel intimately observes and strikingly captures the daily behaviour of office workers, with an ironic undertone.

Tomorrow, Thursday 13 October, Foam opens the exhibition Talent 2011, with the work of the selected photographers at a new exhibition space at the Vijzelstraat 78 in Amsterdam (opening starts at 17.30 hours).

The Foam Magazine #28 Talent issue can be read here.
ISBN 978 90 70516 23 9

Jolien Verlaek

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