PHOTO: Foam Talent 2024-2025

The biennial Foam Talent Call is a search for exceptionally talented photographers from all across the world. Selected artists receive a number of career-building opportunities, including a publication in Foam Magazine’s biennial talent issue, participation in (online) programmes and events, as well as the potential to be added to the prestigious Art Collection Deutsche Börse.

By Dimitris Lempesis
Photo: Foam Archive

Foam presents the work of 20 artists shaping the future of photography in the group exhibition “Foam Talent 2024-2025”. The exhibition brings together artists from across the world, their work signifying a bold new direction in the photographic arts. The artists’ works signify a bold, new direction in photographic art. The talents were selected during the biennial Foam Talent Call, for which an astounding 2,500 photographers from over 106 countries submitted their work. The exhibition emphasizes the role of photography as a powerful medium for storytelling, cultural critique, and personal expression. In a time of increasing polarization, this year’s talents challenge the viewer to reflect on the viewpoints of others and invite empathy. At the heart of the exhibition lies the exploration of urgent societal issues, where artists introspectively examine both themselves and the world. The topics of interest range from migration to the danger of internet algorithms, and from questioning gender roles to a reflection on the impact of colonialism. Looking to broaden the medium of photography, this year’s talents present us with innovative approaches, from embroideries on photos and the use of photogrammetry to the use of Artificial Intelligence. The selection celebrates photographers who dare to push the boundaries of creative expression. As seen in previous years the talent submissions were very much a reflection of the times we live in, covering a broad spectrum of current themes relating to all aspects of society. The topics of interest range from migration to the danger of internet algorithms, and from questioning gender roles to colonialism. New practices include the use of digital platforms and algorithms, expanding the artists’ scope and reach. This digital democratisation allows them to engage with a broader audience and offers a global stage for their genuine artistic voices. The presence of new technologies was very noticeable, with artificial intelligence being the number one newcomer of the year. The jury, consisting of the curatorial team of Foam, believes this edition of Foam Talent really is a celebration of those who dare to experiment.

Participating Artists: Eleonora Agostini, Cristóbal Ascencio, Florian Braakman, Sander Coers, Rehab Eldalil, Issam Larkat, Xin Li, Akshay Mahajan, Thero Makepe, Marisol Mendez, Ricardo Nagaoka, Andrea Orejarena & Caleb Stein, André Ramos-Woodard, Aaryan Sinha, MAryam Touzani, Jaclyn Wright, Shwe Wutt Hmon, Cansu Yıldıran, Sheung Yiu, Amin Youse

Photo: © Shwe Wutt Hmon, from the series “Do Miss Hospital Visit”, 2023

Info: Foam, Keizersgracht 609, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Duration: 23/2-22/5/2024, Days & Hours: Mon-Wed & Sat-Sun 10:00-18:00, Thi-Fri 10:00-21:00, www.foam.org/