Bratislava is once again turning its attention to photography this November, as the 36th Month of Photography opens on 3 November. This year's festival brings together established names and emerging voices, with exhibitions exploring the history of the medium, British photography, the links between painting and photography, and the impact of organised crime.
At the Umelka Gallery, visitors can discover the work of three British photographers: documentary photographer Peter Dench, street photographer Josh Edgoose and writer and photographer Cig Harvey. The programme at the House of Arts features two other prominent British names. Don McCullin, one of the world's best-known war photographers, is presenting a collection of images documenting conflict and human suffering. Meanwhile, Julia Fullerton-Batten uses carefully staged, cinematic scenes to tell stories inspired by life along the River Thames and the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo.
Slovak photography is also well represented. Exhibitions feature the work of Jozef Sedlák and Miro Švolík, an influential member of the Slovak New Wave, an artistic movement that emerged in the 1980s. His exhibition Touch shows how photography can go beyond simply recording reality and become a playful form of artistic expression. Another highlight is Double Pleasure: Two Poles of the Image, bringing together almost 100 Slovak and Czech artists to explore the relationship between painting and photography from the 1970s to the present day.
The festival also examines the relationship between painting and photography through an exhibition featuring nearly 100 Slovak and Czech artists, while a dedicated section presents works by Slovak photographers including Karol Kállay, Magdaléna Robinsonová and Miro Švolík.
As festival director Václav Macek explained, the exhibition offers a retrospective of Italian photographer Letizia Battaglia, who gained international recognition for documenting the Sicilian Mafia and its victims. Her photographs capture nearly three decades of life in Palermo, where everyday scenes were marked by violence and the presence of organised crime. Alongside the exhibitions, visitors can attend workshops, book presentations and guided tours.
TASR
