Antipodean collaboration wins Australian Photobook of the Year Awards 2017
Variations for Troubled Hands by Steve Carr and independent publisher Perimeter Editions was recently announced as the winner of the Australian Photobook of the Year Awards 2017, winning $1,000 cash and $4,000 in Momento Pro printing credit. Three other works were highly commended, and all ten finalist books will travel in an exhibition throughout Australia, New Zealand, and internationally.
According toJudging Chair, Heidi Romano, “Variations for Troubled Hands presented an original concept that combined performance, dance, photography and film into a beautifully executed book. It is a meditative object that draws you in as a participant, rather than just an observer.” The publication was a collaboration between Auckland photographer Steve Carr, and Melbourne-based independent publisher, Perimeter Editions, who have been publishing limited-run books featuring photographers and artists from Australia and abroad since 2012.
The three commended finalists included: Tokyo is Yours, a self published title by Meg Hewitt launched at the Rencontres d'Arles in 2017; The Pines by James Bugg, a student of Photography Studies College, Melbourne; and AREOGLYPHIC – Volume 1 by Chloe Ferres, a project that reflects her passion for experimenting with book making. Each receives $500 printing credit from Momento Pro. The remaining six finalists were:
- Desperado by Hannah Nikkelson, self published
- Family Photos by Eliza Hutchison, published by Perimeter Editions
- Form Supplement by Traianos Pakioufakis, published by Éditions
- Fucked Up Fotos by Stephen Dupont/A Bordertown Book, self published
- On the Sea Stands a Rock by Sam Forsyth-Gray, self published
- Pabva Zizi Pagara Gondo - Where the Owl Left the Eagle Comes to Sit by Cameron James Cope, self published
“In order to deal with the diversity across the 71 entries, the judges assessed the suitability of the photography, design and production values for the books’ intended purpose and audience,” Romano said. “It was clear to us that all ten finalist books had taken serious time to consider and reflect upon every aspect of the work, so that it worked as a complete package.”
The judging panel included Anouska Phizacklea of Monash Gallery of Art, Patricia Karallis of Paper Journal, photographer Ingvar Kenne, and Paulina De Laveaux of Thames & Hudson. A second prize, the People’s Choice Award, is judged by guests to the exhibition who submit a vote for their favourite book. The book with the most votes receives $500 cash and $2,000 printing credit, and the winner will be announced in early September when entries open for the 2018 Award series.
About the awards
Photobook production company, Momento Pro, established the awards in 2011, to celebrate excellence and innovation in photo book creation, and to showcase the work of Australian photo artists to local and international audiences. Since then they have handed out $60,000 in prizes to photographers including Sam Harris and Stephen Dupont, who both went on to publish subsequent books with renowned international publishers.