Archives play an important role in the work of artists and photographers, whether they are (re)used for narrative purposes combining fiction and reality, or mobilised for their aesthetic or informative qualities. This discussion aims to address various issues related to archives and their use through the perspectives of an archivist, a researcher in Visual Cultures and an artist.

Among the topics addressed during this meeting: what are the challenges associated with the archiving of anonymous photographs? How can an artistic approach enhance their value? How can an existing archive be reinterpreted, and what kind of new discourse can be produced from it? How do archival materials integrate into the artistic research process, and which strategies do artists adopt to raise their visibility or create fiction from them ?

With Eloi Contesse (Head Curator of the Iconography Centre at Bibliothèque de Genève), Zoe A. Keller (researcher in Visual Cultures), Mathias C. Pfund (artist and art historian)

‘We need to talk…’ is a series of public talks proposed by the Centre de la photographie Genève since 2022, addressed primarily to artists, photographers and students in these disciplines. Professionals from different fields related to art and photography are invited to share their expertise and professional experience, and to discuss the specificities of their practice. With these talks, the Centre de la photographie Genève intends to demystify certain professions, encourage good practices, and support artists and photographers in important processes related to their profession, which remain largely unaddressed in art and photography schools.

Image: Mathias C. Pfund, "Les Rayons X" (d'après Gabriele di Matteo), 2022

Image credits : Philip Frowein