Christian Patterson / The Well-Realized Book ArtFotoMode
This five-day, studio-based workshop in Berlin with acclaimed photographic bookmaker Christian Patterson focuses on the often complex process of photographic bookmaking and the art of visual structure. Participants should arrive with photographic projects in development, and are strongly encouraged to bring work with some conceptual and narrative grounding. They should also be prepared to experiment with new approaches to editing, sequence, layout, and design.
A few days prior to the workshop, Patterson will open his exhibition Gong Co. at Robert Morat Galerie in Berlin. Early in the workshop, participants will join him for an intimate artist talk and gallery tour, providing insight into his work methods and inviting discussion around the challenges and opportunities presented by the book and exhibition form. Patterson will also provide participants with the opportunity to see his latest book in dummy and maquette form, and discuss the publishing and printing process.
In the studio, participants will make a short initial presentation of their work, introducing concepts and narratives at play, sharing existing challenges, and stating their own workshop goals. Patterson will deliver case studies of his own books, and presentations on bookmaking best practices, He will introduce participants to approaches to photographic sequencing, rhythm, and visual structure, and share methods for simplifying the often complex bookmaking process. Participants will be challenged to apply the approaches to their work that is in progress or nearing completion. All of this will be done with a view to connecting with and complementing the conceptual and narrative elements at play in participants’ work.
There will be much hands-on work editing, sequencing, and establishing the visual structure of participants’ book projects. Patterson will work closely with each participant as they strive to find best approaches to shaping and structuring their work in book form.
Participants may produce very rudimentary dummies during the workshop, and work closely with Patterson to develop detailed plans for next steps in their work’s development, including dummies and maquettes to be produced in the weeks or months following the workshop.
On the final evening, participants will make a second presentation of their work reflecting on the workshop experience and any resulting new approaches or developments in their work going forward. This will take place with a small invited audience at an atelier in Berlin.
The official daily schedule is 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and the workshop is limited to 12 participants maximum.