«The illiterate of the future, it has been said, will not be the man who cannot read the alphabet, but the one who cannot take a photograph. But must we not also count as illiterate the photographer who cannot read his own pictures?»
Walter Benjamin commenting a quotation by László Moholy-Nagy, in Short History of Photography, 1931.
Le Masterklass takes place in the heart of Paris, in a spacious and luminous artist loft from DECEMBER 2023 to NOVEMBER 2024.
Le Masterklass is made of 3 group meetings throughout the year, but most specially of an individual coaching, according to the evolution of each participant’s evolution and creation..
In one word, a tailor-made Masterklass.
Based on the importance of the individual meetings that will shape the direction of the one year long project, the group meetings will be an opportunity, first of all, to have the pleasure of meeting the other members of Le Masterklass, then to submit the evolution of the project, with group criticism, crItical but always constructive.
Video of the 2016-17 MK by Marine Moungalla and Karen Sabbe
Individual coaching is the guiding light of this one year guidance Klavdij provides each participant with, with a total involvement to bring each participant to one’s own personal photographic expression.
Why LE MASTERKLASS is unique
This Masterklass is outstanding due to its original way of following the evolution and progression of each participant.
The group meeting once every three months gives the opportunity to share ideas, points of view, give and receive constructive criticism.
The personal meetings consist of having a personal encounter with Klavdij, showing photos there was no time to show during the group encounter, seeing if the year-long project should be the continuity of a project already started or something new. Discussing the various possibilities and reach an evidence is the goal.
By bringing material that might not be used for the final project, this will be a way to get rid of existing doubts. These personal meetings are scheduled according to a very rigorous timing and calendar. The aim is to consider the many various possibilities to put one’s feelings into shape and keep the most appropriate one.
Main goals
The Masterklass focuses on the most appropriate way to find a theme to work on throughout the year. This means the theme will have to take into account various parameters ranging from personal desires, obsessions, points of interest… to the actual possibility to put all of these parameters into shape.
Another possibility will be to keep on working on a project already started previously.
The group meetings will be the time to show the development od each project. These group meetings will be a time where each participant gives a clear statement of the way the project develops.
Individual meetings will be the time of questions, doubts and thinking of the way to give shape to a project. This will be a time where we ask questions we are asking ourselves when alone, in the loneliness of conceiving a project, the way to give it shape, editing.
It might happen that evidence comes out after several individual meetings.
The art of EDITING: editing is the keystone when building a coherent series. Editing gives clues about the way to keep on working on one’s project. Without editing, no appropriate distance with one’s photos.
Show me your photos and I will tell you who you are.
• Editing is the moment where one’s own personal photographic writing takes shape.
An educated eye is necessary to go beyond oneself and avoid repeating what has already been done.
Many and various references will be given during Le Masterklass. In photography, classic as contemporary photographers, but also in different areas of visual arts, not to speak of literature.
• All of this will help to find which genre or field of photography is the most appropriate according to the chosen theme.
• Knowing one’s own work helps to focus on whom we wish it to be shown: magazine, gallery, editor…
• take into account the most appropriate way to present one’s work:
For an exhibition:
• choose the right paper
• size of the prints
• framing
• decide of a rhythm, order, sequence of the photos. Be aware of the strong ones. The ones that create a link between two chapters…
• the way to mount an exhibition in a given space.
For a publication:
• size of the book
• lay out
• title, text
• editor or artist book.
An exhibition, a book or a slideshow induce totally different ways of considering o series of photos.
The way to present one’s own work and give it the maximum potential will also be one of the keystones of LE MASTERKLASS. How to prepare for a prize, a scholarship, a portfolio review, a gallery, a magazine, a festival with a specific theme…all of these aspects will be considered with Klavdij.
Who can participate:
Open to anyone who has a passion for photography
Klavdij believes that each person has the capacity to build his/her own visual language when passion for the image and the right guidance co-exist.
That is to say:
– professional photographers and artists who wish to further develop their style, concept, technique or to break away from it, to deepen specific projects from press and commercial work to documentary, personal or artistic expression.
– students – preparation of portfolio for entrance into art institutes and schools, to develop further their portfolios for job opportunities, to become independent photographers/artists
– amateurs who wish to develop their photographic eye, to learn about photography and to cultivate their knowledge of art and photography, who may be even considering a freelance career as a photographer or artist or even a career change
Spoken languages
Mainly French and English, without forgetting Russian, Italian, Bosnian, Croatian, Serb, Slovenian…
Where does the workshop take place
In the heart of Paris, in an artist loft, spacious and bright, with natural light, equipped with all technology necessary to work within the best technical conditions.
A huge table will be our main tool to do the editing in vivo.
Located rue du Faubourg Poissonnière, in the 9th arrondissement of Paris, next to these métro stations: Poissonnière, Bonne Nouvelle, Cadet (lines 7, 8 & 9).
A huge range of possibilities for accommodation. Feel free to ask for advice.
How to participate
To join the Masterklass, send an email to : lemasterklass@gmail.com
answer will be given in the language of demand
or if you wish, you can call:
Susanna: +33 7 69 18 66 25. Susanna will give all information you need.
A REGISTRATION FORM to be filled in will be sent to you on request.
Cost of LE MASTERKLASS, subscription, miscellaneous informations
2970,00€ for the year, from DECEMBER 2023 to NOVEMBER 2024.
Including 3 group meetings and individual meetings according to each participant’s evolution, progression, need…
How to pay: see with LE MASTERKLASS organisation.
How to register: by sending a filled in registration form and a first payment will make you part of LE MASTERKLASS group.
The number of participants is limited to 15.
We wish to inform you that due to the numerous workshops, conferences, portfolio reviewing…Klavdij meets a lot of photographers. Which is a pleasure. Some of them register in advance for their further MASTERKLASS to come. Therefore the limit of 15 participants will be strictly respected.
The organisation of LE MASTERKLASS cannot be held for responsible in case of any loss, damage, deterioration… of any participants’ belongings or equipment and does not cover any damage that could occur during the time of LE MASTERKLASS. Each participant has to subscribe a personal insurance, covering any eventual damage of any kind.
In case of cancellation, the participant’s deposit will be given back, with a deduction of 350,00€ for administrative expenses. For cancellations made less than 60 days in advance, no reimbursement will be made, except in case of force majeure.
Calendar
1st group meeting : Friday 1st of DECEMBER from 6 to 9pm, for a welcoming buffet dînatoire, Saturday 2nd & Sunday 3rd of DECEMBER 2023
2nd group meeting : Saturday 29th & Sunday 30th of JUNE 2024
3rd group meeting :Saturday 2nd & Sunday 3rd of NOVEMBER 2024
The group week-ends at the loft in Paris will be run similarly:
9am-12.30 – 2pm-7.30pm
• lunch taken together.
• Assistant:
Susanna will be constantly present to help solve all kinds of technical, practcical, or any other demand, They master all the modern techniques. No problems, only solutions.
•Coffee, tea, fresh juices, snacks…fruit, are at the disposal of the participants throughout the MASTERKLASS.
Various tasty specialties also available…
For the first group meeting, each participant comes with one or several series of PRINTED photos, small size, so that we can display them on the table.
Bring between 20 and 25 printed photos, good quality contact proofs, A4 maximum.
If you have a few nicely printed photos to show of a larger size (exhibition print quality) feel free to bring them.
• bring those of your former productions, publication, book, magazine, artist book, scrapbook, you think will help to introduce you as a photographer in quest of one’s own photographic language.
•notebook, recorder, computer…anything you need to keep all of the many references given and suggested all along LE MASTERKLASS.
Individual meetings will be strictly scheduled in advance, from one GROUP encounter to another.
Physical encounters will be privileged. When not possible, SKYPE will be our communication tool. Be aware SKYPE is a wonderful tool to work at a distance opening many ways not even suspected for their efficiency in editing.
When material is well prepared in advance, skype is a very convenient and efficient way to look at photos and edit.
All technical advices to use skype, wetransfer…will be given at the right moment.
Klavdij Sluban is a French photographer of Slovenian origin, born in Paris on 3.3.1963.
Klavdij Sluban produces a rigorous and coherent body of work. Often imbued with literary references, his photographic cycles are at the margins of the immediate news. They deal with the contemporary world with a singular photographic style recognisable by its deep blacks, devoid of any exoticism. He has travelled, often on foot, through the Balkans, the former Yugoslavia, the Black Sea, the former Soviet Union, the Caribbean, China, Central America, the Kerguelen Islands (1st artistic mission to Antarctica) and Japan (Kyoto-Tokyo, 500km).
Elected “Artist of the Year » in South Korea in 2017, he is the winner of the Prix de Photographie de l’Académie des Beaux-Arts de l’Institut de France 2015, the Villa Kujoyama 2015, the European Publishers’ Award for Photography 2009, the Prix Leica 2004, the Prix Niépce 2000 (main distinction in photography in France), and the Villa Médicis Hors-les Murs1998.
Klavdij Sluban’s work has been exhibited in major institutions in recent years, including the National Museum in Singapore, the Académie des Beaux-arts de l’Institut in Paris, the Museum of Photography in Helsinki, the Fine Arts Museum in Guangzhou, the Metropolitan Museum of Photography in Tokyo, Rencontres d’Arles, the Maison Européenne de la Photographie, the Museum of Modern Art in Guatemala City and the Centre Pompidou/Beaubourg in Paris.
In 2013, the Musée Niépce devoted a retrospective to his work, After Darkness, 1992-2012.
He has published numerous works: 7AM, with Tereza Kozinc, éd. IIKKI, 2023; Photo Poche, n°169, text by Željko Kozinc, éd. Actes Sud, 2022; In Vivo, éd IIKKI, 2022; Entre Parenthèses, Photo Poche Société n°12, éd. Actes Sud, 2005; Transverses – 1992-2002, éd. Maison Européenne de la Photographie, Balkans Transit, text by François Maspero, éd. du Seuil, 1997, East to East, European Publishers’ Award of Photography, 2009 published by six European publishers, including Peliti Associati, All’est dell’este, text by Erri de Luca.
Klavdij Sluban during a workshop
Since 1995, Sluban has been photographing teenagers in jails. In each prison he organises workshops with the young offenders to share his passion.
First originated in France, in the prison of Fleury-Mérogis accompanied by Henri Cartier-Bresson during 7 years, as well as Marc Riboud and William Klein punctually. This commitment was pursued in the disciplinary camps of Eastern Europe –Serbia, Slovenia, Ukraine, Georgia, Moldavia, Latvia – and in the disciplinary centres of Moscow and St Petersburg as well as in Ireland. From 2007 to 2012, Sluban has been working in Central America with imprisoned youngsters belonging to maras (gangs) in Guatemala and Salvador. In 2015, he started photographing imprisoned teenagers in Brazil and Peru.
See the Official website
www.facebook.com/klavdij.sluban
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klavdij_Sluban
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJqzpOdZjZQ (H. Cartier Bresson & K. Sluban)
https://www.lensculture.com/articles/klavdij-sluban-adolescent-prisons
http://www.rfi.fr/emission/20150830-klavdij-sluban (Intellectuels d’Europe)
http://www.mep-fr.org/evenement/klavdij-sluban-2/
http://www.rencontres-arles.com/C.aspx?VP3=CMS3&VF=ARL_211_VForm&FRM=Frame%3AARL_301
Participants’ works from workshops, masterclasses lead by Klavdij
Site officiel de David Fathi et la superbe vidéo de sa série.
Site officiel de Pia Elizondo
Site officiel de Erika Vancouver
Site officiel de Oliver Brossard et son travail sur un précédent workshop