Guest Room aims to spark collaborations. That’s why Emma Bowkett is teaming up with Sergio Valenzuela Escobedo, curator and PhD Student from École Nationale de Photographie (ENSP) and based in Arles in choosing the theme for this instalment. Sergio Valenzuela Escobedo has provided the following quote from The Laughing Alligator, Juan Downey 1979.

I discover that I would like to be eaten up by some Indians of the Amazon rainforest, not as a self-sacrifice, at least not consciously, but as a demonstration of the ultimate architecture. To inhabit, to mourn both physically and psychologically within the human being, who would eventually eat me.

Why submit to Guest Room?

• Show your work to outstanding curators and gallerists.
• Get the chance to be published at Der Greif website, a highly-frequented international source of photographic art.
• Submit for free or for a small donation – you decide.

Voluntary donation

After over a decade of serving the international photography community Der Greif is now finally a registered non-profit. We believe this organizational structure best reflects our artistic and cultural mission. As always, your artistic contribution makes our work on Der Greif possible.

Since starting Guest Room in January 2015, we’ve been working hard to invite a broad range of practitioners, from gallerists to editors and curators. We are convinced that this format is an interesting and low-barrier approach to help artists get their work in front of people who might be interested in working with them. For this reason, we are asking you to consider making a financial contribution as well. That’s why we’re suggesting a voluntary donation of 5 € as a submission fee. 100% of the funds we collect from your donations will go towards helping us continue providing interesting opportunities for the photography community through Guest Room, and thus expand Der Greif.

We believe in inclusivity. We don’t want this suggested donation to stand in the way of your submission. If you are unable to contribute financially, please send an email to voucher@dergreif.org to receive a voucher code which will allow you to enter for free.

Thank you so much!

Emma Bowkett is Director of Photography at the Financial Times FT Weekend Magazine. Joining in 2009, she was integral to the small creative team who reworked the visual language of the magazine for the 2010 re-launch. Emma has curated exhibitions for the Triennale der Photographie Hamburg, Peckham 24 in London and in 2018 co-curated PhotoEast festival. She is a visiting university lecturer and regularly participates at international portfolio reviews, festivals, art fairs and awards. She is part of the Magnum Photos Professional Practice programme, which supports young and emerging photographers. She won the inaugural Firecracker Contributors Award, which recognises women who have had a substantial impact on the photography industry and is voted for by professional photographers.

About Der Greif Guest Room

Guest Room is a monthly online exhibition with open submissions curated in real-time by personalities from the international photography scene. Der Greif is an award-winning organization for contemporary photography. It is print-publication, online-publication, curatorial team and joint project all at once. Der Greif connects the digital and the analogue, exploring and expanding the borders and limits of image-distribution and -reception in the digital era.