Snapshots

Lomography is the photo-based community that has given cult status to the Soviet 35mm compact camera Lomo LC-A since 1992. Copies of the camera are now produced all over the place but you can only find the original model in Russian second-hand shops (for a quarter of the price of a new one!). The camera is extremely simple to use with few adjustments possible and, at times, a frighteningly sharp lens.

That the cult started in Austria rather than in Russia may seem ironical. Perhaps it is time for Russia to be viewed in colour rather than in the dark sepia that literature and films have communicated to us. Julija Svetlova has written an article explaining why it took such a long time for Russia to join the cult and how the network has grown internationally. The owners of the 100 SVOIH gallery in St. Petersburg claim that “we do not choose our public, they choose us”, while trendy Etagi is actively working to broaden its target audience.

Milou Allerholm has met with curator and art historian Maria Lind for a discussion of the future of art institutions.

At the end of March the tenth Havana Biennial will open. Edward Gomez reports on the situation facing Cuban artists whose themes include such matters as flight and isolation.

Next month our theme will be fashion/art in the exhibition medium.

See you!

Sanna Svanberg
Editor