Artists in Residency at Photoforum Pasquart
In July 2023 Photoforum Pasquart hosted its first two photographers from the African continent to Biel/Bienne for a one month residency. The aim of this collaboration with the Swiss Council for Arts Pro Helvetia is to invite photographers from abroad to take a new look at the city from the outside.
Introducing Fatma Fahmy & Martin Kharumwa
© Fatma Fahmy
In the photography of Fatma Fahmy from Egypt, the focus is on people and their environment. Her images depict everyday life in Egypt, away from common clichés, and emphasize the strong stories and relationships of people, whether along a tramline or in connection with precious water. In 2020, Fatma Fahmy was awarded the Daniele Tamagni Scholarship at the Market Photo Workshop and was recognized by PhMuseum (Bologna) as a promising African photographer.
© Martin Kharumwa
In the photographs of Martin Kharumwa from Uganda, people take center stage, whether in portraits or fashion shots. He emphasizes the importance of telling one’s own stories and developing unique styles, free from external influences. This is evident in his collaboration with the “Afropocene studio lab” in Kampala, where he expresses his experiences on the continent through nuanced images. Martin Kharumwa, a self-taught photographer, works freelance for the fashion industry, NGOs, and international media. His works are characterized by constant change and the exploration of new visual worlds, without limiting himself to photography alone. He was awarded the Sony World Photography Award in 2008.
> Martin Kharumwa on Instagram
A project of Jana J. Haeckel, followed by Andreas Hagenbach
Text: Andreas Hagenbach