Photography, Art and Activism

 A conversation with the acclaimed Dutch conceptual documentary photographic artist Jan Banning. 

Drawing on a selection of his photographic series—each of which engages with social and political issues—Banning will discuss how his work “transcends traditional documentary photography.” He does so, first, through deliberate and thoughtful decisions regarding the visual representation of his subjects, where form is intrinsically shaped by content. Secondly, he will address his efforts to use his work as a vehicle for contributing to social change in various parts of the world. His engagement does not end with the publication, exhibition, or inclusion of his photographs in (museum or private) collections; rather, his work is often described as a form of “artivism,” a concept he will elaborate on in his presentation.