Your cart is currently empty!
Endless news cycles. 24/7 digital connectivity. Workplace burnout. Daily life can sometimes feel overwhelming. In 2023, The Guardian reported on “The Great Resignation,” a trend that began on TikTok and continues to sweep through workplaces as employees reassess their work life balance to prioritise mental wellbeing. But what happens when people take a step back? The act of pausing is central to the 2023 Getxophoto International Image Festival, which explores the political act of inactivity. Twenty four projects from artists based in countries including Britain, Ecuador, Japan and Morocco reimagine breaks as gestures of rebellion and resistance. Throughout the event, curator María Ptqk (b. 1976) invites visitors to “demand the right to be unproductive” and consider the potential benefits of nothingness. We take a closer look at 5 photographers reflecting on this mindset through their work.
Esmeralda Kosmatopoulos
A Google search of “Lesbos” reveals golden sands, clear waters and green coves – an ideal holiday destination. In 2018, multi-disciplinary artist Esmeralda Kosmatopoulos (b. 1981) split her time on the Greek island between holidaying and volunteering at the Moria refugee camp. Thirty one photographs document the daily changes to the horizon during this period, representing conflicting feelings of joy and emptiness. White squares mirror Murray Fredericks’ ethereal horizons, yet Kosmatopoulos’ scenes ask viewers to reflect on the stories that lie beneath, rather than basking in the splendour of the vast ocean.
Photographerhal
There are more than 50 million influencers around the world, according to Forbes, with #Influencer amassing 44.8 million posts on Instagram alone. From videos of shopping haul try ons to promotional posts of new products, these content creators have a huge impact on society and ideas of success. Japanese artist Haruhiko Kawaguchi (b. 1971), who uses the pseudonym Photographerhal, responds to the grip of consumerism and achieving perfection in a collection of deeply disturbing portraits. Couples, families and friends huddle together under a plastic façade. The effect is suffocating and claustrophobic.
