In 2023-2024, I initiated FOTODOK's participation in the European programme Intergalactica: Books for the Culture Without Borders. Connecting institutions and artists from across Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands and Italy, this transnational initiative aims to create a series of innovative photobooks as objects of art.
Taking the materiality of these books as a starting point, the Intergalactica programme transmutes their contents into various new forms, including exhibitions and digital platforms. Through four artistic residencies and a Europe-wide open call, the project strives to foster collaboration among photographers, curators and designers, with a focus on common issues across the European Union.
Alongside fellow co-founders – XYZ Books, Yogurt, Fiebre and Iconic Theory – FOTODOK is delighted to contribute towards this endeavour.
Kickstarting the programme, FOTODOK will first embark on the creation of a photobook with artist Yana Kononova, whose work examines the consequences of Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine. Working with designers Fernanda Fajardo and João Linneu, the book will be co-published by FOTODOK and XYZ Books.
Started in 2022, Yana Kononova’s ongoing Radiations of War series explores landscapes transformed by conflict. With a background in social sciences, Kononova delves into “the existential dimensions of technical warfare, violence, and genocide” in areas affected by Russian occupation and military action, capturing “war crimes, destroyed civilian infrastructure, the activities of various Ukrainian services, the bodies of fallen warriors and the victims among the civilian population.” As the reverberations of Russia’s full-scale invasion are felt across Europe, Kononova’s work resonates deeply with Intergalactica’s core themes.
Supported by the European Union, Republica Portuguesa, DGArtes, and the Danish Arts Foundation, the Intergalactica programme offers FOTODOK an exciting opportunity to explore new methods of storytelling, as well as to engage with pressing societal issues through the lens of documentary photography.
More information: Intergalactica.net
ABOUT THE CO-FOUNDERS
XYZ Books (Lisbon, Portugal)
XYZ Books is an independent publishing house specialising in high-quality photography books. Alongside publishing, XYZ Books offers residency programs, workshops, and photography-related services such as printing and bookmaking.
Yogurt (Rome, Italy)
Yogurt, a platform by the Paper Room Cultural Association explores trends in contemporary photography. As organisers of the biennial festival Charta, Yogurt fosters dialogue and innovation within the photography community.
Fiebre (Madrid, Spain)
Fiebre hosts Spain’s first photobook festival in Madrid, serving as a vital meeting point for photobook enthusiasts. Collaborating with Bestalde Studio, Fiebre regularly integrates technology into its festival experience.
Iconic Theory (Braga, Portugal)
Iconic Theory specialises in culture and creativity, offering services from project planning to co-production. With a multidisciplinary team, Iconic Theory drives cultural initiatives forward.
PAVAC (Braga, Portugal)
PAVAC, founded in 2018, focuses on the dissemination of audiovisual arts. With a commitment to promoting visual literacy, PAVAC engages diverse social groups through innovative cultural mediation.
ABOUT YANA KONONOVA
Artist Yana Kononova was born on Pirallahi island in the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan. During the First Nagorno-Karabakh War, her family moved to Ukraine, where she first immersed herself in photography. Graduating from the Photoschool of Viktor Marushchenko, she further honed her skills through a photography course organised by the Image Threads Collective (USA). With a background in social science, Kononova holds a PhD in Sociology. Her artistic talent has been recognised by awards such as the 2019 Bird in Flight Prize in Emerging Photography and the 2022 Hariban Award, whilst her works have featured in both exhibitions in Ukraine and abroad. She was included in FOTODOK’s 2023 exhibition Whispers and Shouts: Voices of Ukrainian Women Photographers, where her work contributed to a collective narrative on the effects of war and displacement.