The photo book store Softcover has quickly become a go-to spot for quality photobooks in Vienna. On 22 October 2024, the venue hosted a conversation featuring Felix Hoffmann, Artistic Director of FOTO ARSENAL WIEN, Anna Breit, and Eric Asamoah. The talk was part of the FOTO ARSENAL WIEN in transition sequence of events while waiting for the reopening at the new place at the Arsenal. Find some of my thoughts and eventphotos I took in this article.

Felix used his insightful questions to draw out the different approaches each photographer took. He highlighted how a photobook can be appreciated not only for its images but also for the thought process behind selecting these images as a cohesive group. In the end, the book is an object—a result of design, layout, and careful decisions.

Anna Breit discussed some of the unusual design choices in her book "Look Book 01".

Anna explained her approach to featuring over 100 analog portraits from her archive, all displayed tightly cropped across continuous double-page spreads, creating an intense visual experience.

Eric Asamoah shared insights into his book "Forever Lasts Until It Ends".

Eric spoke about how his photographs, though not traditional portraits, incorporate highly emotional elements such as water, beach, sea, and sky. These compositions invite the viewer into a dreamlike state, evoking personal reflections and feelings.

A special thanks to Sebastian Gansrigler for hosting the event at the Softcover bookshop

@anna_breit @felix_hoffmann__ @softcover.shop @foto_arsenal_wien

More photos can be found on my Gallery page.

#photographybooks #photographybook #photobook #artisttalk #bookshop

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