A book introduction by STEVE BISSON
1. Tell us about your current photographic research?
My current research has a few lines of enquiry, mostly it has to do with Architecture, but I’m also interested in repetition, geology and entropy. Architecture interests me because of what it can represent, buildings can stand for the time in which they were built, as well as the motives behind their construction. In the case of Frameworks, the reasons for their incompletion as well.
2. Let’s talk about Frameworks?
I’ve been working on Frameworks on and off for a couple of years now. It’s a study of unfinished skeletal structures around Europe. I want to hint at the spaces they were supposed to become, whilst likening them to ancient ruins in both their appearance, and the reason behind their ruination. The difference here is that they have become ruins before they were buildings, a kind of paused architecture, which is normally concealed when construction is completed. The concrete frame is the essential structure of these buildings, but with no facade to support, they are merely skeletons.
3. How did you get the idea for the book?
The series is ongoing, so the initial idea for this book was to evaluate where the series is now. Seeing all of the images together is very important for me and it’s a great way to show the work. Now that it has been published the series feels more tangible, I like the idea that someone can hold all of the images and browse through them.
4. How did you choose the editor?
I was in Foyle’s bookshop in London and saw a shelf of publications from The Velvet Cell, including books from photographers I have exhibited with and admire. I contacted them to let them know I had enjoyed their books and we went from there.
5. How was your relationship with the publisher in the book making?
As they are based in Asia, it consisted of many e-mails. We discussed every aspect in detail and went through many drafts that were sent back and forth. It was a rewarding dialogue.
6. What did your learn from this experience, plus and minus?
I learnt that often your own ideas about your projects, whether they be about sequencing or text can always be improved if you have an editor that understands the series. In this case I did, so that was a big plus. At times the distance made things difficult, it would’ve been nice to sit down together and go through things. I suppose that’s the only minus point, but we managed.
8. Plans for the future?
Continue working on ‘Frameworks’, amongst other series’. Basically keep working, exhibiting, publishing and never stop.
9. Can you suggest us 3 photography books that you liked?
Two books that have been big inspirations to me for a long time and one that’s not a photo-book in the strict sense, and very rewarding because of it.
Jochen Lempert: Recent Field Work
Michael Schmidt: Berlin Nach 45
Paul Virilio: Bunker Archaeology
INFO
© Sam Laughlin
Frameworks
published by The Velvet Cell
28 pp / 152 x 193 mm
Saddle-Stitch, Colour Offset
ISBN 978-1-908889-23-2
Limited Edition of 300
May 2014
£10