AA VV, FOAM MAGAZINE #57: In Limbo, 2020

IN LIMBO addresses our current state of being, suspended and in vacuum. This issue reflects on how we are experiencing the two main topics of our time – a global pandemic and social challenges – while looking at how this could be a fundamental chance to shift our questions on photography: stop asking “what photography is” and start consciously talking about “what photography can do” and “what we want photography to do”. Shortly, we are addressing the emotional limbo, the political limbo, the sudden silencing of all the background noise that put all of us still – and forced us to listen, and act. The contributions in Foam Magazine # 57  In Limbo offer written and visual reflections on these questions, while opening much needed  discussions around photography’s power and its responsibilities in a climate of crises. 

By encompassing themes such as representation, curatorial care and the human relationship with nature we hope to sow the seeds for conversations that will transform our perception and use of photography going forward. Next to portfolios by renowned artists-including Aïda Muluneh, Taiyo Onorato & Nico Krebs, Wendy Red Star, Stanley Wolukau-Wanambwa and Vasantha Yogananthan, we are thrilled to present striking works by Widline Cadet, Thembinkosi Hlatshwayo and postgraduate students of The Royal Academy of Art, The Hague. Text contributions, interviews and opinion pieces by leading practitioners such as Mariama Attah, Jaime Lowe, David Campany, Joseph Dodds, Tanvi Mishra, Mark Sealy, Sunil Shah, Alec Soth and Deborah Willis reflect on photography’s crucial role within social movements, while reminding us of photography’s potential to offer solace and create communities.