PhotoVogue, which provides an international platform to image-makers from around the world, is hosting its own festival that will bring together artists and comments on ethics in the world of fashion. Considered to be “the first conscious fashion photography festival,” The PhotoVogue Festival is now back for its 9th edition, which will be held at BASE Milano, Italy. Here’s a look at what this year will offer to viewers and what opportunities can come their way.
The lead image is by Imraan Christian, courtesy of the PhotoVogue Festival. All images are used with permission.
This year, the theme of the festival is The Tree of Life: A Love Letter to Nature, which is designed to applaud the resilience, interconnectedness, and beauty of the natural world. At the same time, they wish to address pressing global issues such as climate change and environmental degradation. For this reason, the PhotoVogue Festival offers a variety of programs, including exhibitions, panels, presentations, and digital showcases, each of which aims to offer a platform for dialogue and reflection.
Key Exhibitions
The festival has been co-curated by Caterina De Biasio, Visual Editor, PhotoVogue, and Daniel Rodríguez Gordillo, Senior Manager, Education & Community Initiatives, Condé Nast. Here’s a look at the lineup.
The Tree of Life: A Love Letter to Nature
This is the central exhibition of the festival, and it features the works of 50 distinct image-makers and videographers. The works have been chosen through a global open call, and each work explores various visual tributes to nature. What viewers will see here are the fragility and vulnerability of nature as well as its enduring magnificence. The inspiration for the show has been derived from the concept of kinship, as seen in the book Kinship: Belonging in a World of Relations by The Center for Humans and Nature. Overall, through the works of artists like Alessandro Bo, Amy Sacka, Claire Rosen, and David Yayra Agbofah, this exhibition offers viewers a new way of living, one where humans can create a better ecosystem, challenging the existing capitalist approach to life.
Latin American Panorama
The exhibition has been designed to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Vogue Mexico and Latin America. In this showcase, the PhotoVogue Festival offers a platform to talents from Latin America and its diaspora around the world. With works by over 40 photographers, the exhibit depicts how environmental, documentary, and fashion photography can be used to talk about pressing global issues. In addition, the event also comments on the various traditions and cultures of the region.
In Vogue with Nature
Through this digital exhibition, the PhotoVogue Festival reminds viewers of the connection of fashion with nature. By showcasing various Vogue covers that are in harmony with the theme, the event is designed to showcase the publication’s continued efforts in promoting sustainability and environmental awareness across its global editions. Visitors will have an immersive experience as they see the covers come to life on a massive digital screen, highlighting the beauty of nature and the importance of preserving it.
The Tree of Change
In this showcase, the festival gives a platform to organizations dedicated to environmental advocacy. There are various artworks for this event, such as PhMuseum–Human Visions, Charlie Hamilton James–End Time Project, Vital Impacts–The Nature of Hope, Earthrise Studio–The Ghost Rainforest, and more. PhMuseum’s work showcases the images created by the 2024 Women Photographers Grant winners. Charlie Hamilton James’ showcase offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse into human activity’s impact on the environment; whereas Visual Impacts portrays wildlife photographs of photographers such as Nick Brandt and Cristina Mittermeier.
Seeds of Knowledge
The PhotoVogue Festival also has something for book lovers. This year, the event will also have a library that has eco-fiction, academic essays, and sustainable magazines, each highlighting the impact of climate change and our place in the world. Furthermore, the aim of this section is not to scare the viewers with a focus on apocalyptic stories but rather to highlight a kinder, more radical approach to environmental issues.
Program of Talks
Last but not least, the speaker series brings together a diverse group of people. This year, the topics include diaspora and representation, climate change and social responsibility, fashion’s role in sustainability, and animal kinship, while the sessions will be moderated by experts such as Jordan Anderson, Afsaneh Rai, Yael Martinez, and Bruno Ceschel. In addition, Ami Vitale, Richard Mosse, and Alice Aedy will also give special presentations to viewers.
Overall, the PhotoVogue Festival is a great way to mingle with like-minded people while having meaningful conversations about photography and the role it plays in bridging the gap between fashion and the environment.
The festival takes place between March 6 to 9. For more information, visit PhotoVogue’s website.