WHAT ARE WE?
EXPERIENCE AND EXPERIMENT. Experimentalphotofestival is a non-profit cultural association whose objective is to create, promote, and disseminate experimental photography in all its forms. To this end, we consider it essential to create an international community of artists who can support each other, recognize each other as equals, and create shared projects.
Our approach to organizing the festival is based on the belief that experimentation and exploration are the true expression of equality, freedom, and creativity. We aim to create spaces for creation, reflection, and knowledge exchange, fostering a close connection between artists from around the world that stimulates and enriches their practices.
THE FUTURE IS
EXPERIMENTAL AND NONCONFORMIST
THE TIME HAS COME TO PUT EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH AS AN ATTITUDE AT THE HEART OF PHOTOGRAPHY
This artistic practice has existed, resisted, and persisted since the very creation of photography, and its fertile ground has been the peripheries, those places beyond the reach of established norms and absolute truths. Our intention is to strengthen and disseminate our own narrative by offering the experimental artistic community a space to exhibit their works and thoughts, and to share their techniques, explorations, and concerns. We are an association in constant pursuit of diverse expressions from a transdisciplinary perspective, as we understand that photography draws from film, video, painting, architecture, music, sculpture, dance, and other artistic and social expressions.
The Experimental Photo Festival is the culmination of the annual work of a large number of artists who take advantage of this moment of pause to meet, share knowledge and create shared projects.
The Experimental Photo Festival is the culmination of the annual work of a large number of artists who take advantage of this moment of pause to meet, share knowledge and create shared projects. The International Experimental Photography Festival is possible thanks to the support of the Institut d'Estudis Fotogràfics de Catalunya and the Pati Llimona Civic Centre and the tireless work of a team of 14 people and 40 volunteers. Every year, more than 300 international artists and photography lovers meet with the aim of generating a common space to share, learn and discuss experimental photography in its many facets: from the creation of cameras, lenses and films to the processes of printing, intervention and production of copies, exhibitions and photobooks. Among the activities organised are discussion panels, presentations of projects and experiences, collective laboratories of photographic projects, workshops and collective and individual exhibitions.
The future is experimental and unconventional. It arises from the dialogue between different art forms, from the blending of languages and projects. Experimentation is about experience rather than results.
WHO ARE WE?
LAURA LIGARI
Co-director, in charge of design, distribution, publishing and back office
Graphic designer specialising in branding and communication. She holds a degree in Languages, Arts and Cultures from the University of Urbino and a master’s in Advanced Graphic Design and Photography from IDEP Barcelona. She creates the visual identities of Experimental, Ágora and IPFA, combining design, photography and community engagement to promote a more inclusive and accessible photographic culture.
ASTRID JACOMME
Exhibition Curator
Half chemical engineer, half self-taught photographer. Writer and contributor to the cultural magazine Le Cool Barcelona and Instant Photographers magazine. A traveler without borders. Addicted to concerts, street art, pineapple pizza, and Angela Davis lectures. In love with the city of Barcelona from day one, she never tires of wandering its streets with her Polaroid camera.
PEDRO PEREIRA
Head of communications, marketing and back office
TONI CB
Registrations and new technologies manager
Person, passionate about technology and fond of photography. He loves listening to music, traveling and getting to know new cultures and people, and learning, never stops learning. Always ready to help.
LA VERDADERA NONA POP
Director of the audiovisual production department
Self-taught par excellence, he has studied and worked simultaneously in photography, film, early childhood education, cocktails, car mechanics, theater, and wrestling was on his mind. Soul of a swallow, tongue of a parrot (because it is talkative, not because it is harsh) and the stomach of a mouse. And since four eyes see more than two, she hits the REC instead of the SHOOT.
PABLO GIORI
Co-director, in charge of the program, budget and grants
With a PhD in Contemporary History, a Master's degree in Communication, and a Master's degree in Cultural Studies, he serves as co-director of the International Festival of Experimental Photography and Agora, School of Experimentation, combining academic knowledge with practical experience. His mission is to inspire transformative change through teaching and cultural management to understand the future of photography.
ARANTXA BERGANZO
Exhibition Curator
She studied physics and humanities, but she's actually a summer camp counselor. Equally a teacher and a mom, she bikes across Barcelona every day. Crazy about her family and friends, she loves to read, dance, laugh, learn, and try new things all the time. She's researching urban art and is dying to create some herself someday—who knows?
EMILIANO COVELLO
In charge of grants, accounting and production
He holds a Master's degree in Cultural Management, a Bachelor's degree in Art Management, and a Higher Technical degree in Photographic Imaging. He founded Terrero Rev, a laboratory specializing in analog photography, where he supported artists in their projects and conducted research on the materiality of photosensitive processes. His interest lies in contributing to the deepening of cultural democracy through photography. He strives to live by the philosophy that nothing is lost, everything is transformed.
GAL WACHS
Responsible for workshops, materials
A passionate photographer with a degree in Cinematography. He works as a photographer, workshop leader, and technician at La Revelona, a lab and production company he founded. He's a baritone (he has the shower; he lacks the voice). He firmly believes in experimentation and trial and error as means for art to constantly question itself. Proud Hotmail account holder.
CRISTINA SÁNCHEZ
Head of the photography department
Avid traveler. She's been capturing moments for as long as she can remember. A dreamer, brave, a fighter, and strong—very strong. A sushi monster. Administrator and founder of Grisphoto and Estudi25.
PALOMA DUARTE
Art Swap Manager
A photography graduate and visual artist, she has spent many years exploring eroticism and incorporating it into her art. Her expertise lies in experimenting with Photoshop, as well as expanding her expressiveness through text, painting, and folk singing. She loves silence and nature as much as drinking mate in the morning.
AGUS DOZ COSTA
SIMÓN HELU
In charge of exhibition production and Art Swap
Artists' representative, registrations
and Art Swap
Graduate in Theater, multifaceted producer and Master's student in Cultural Management in Barcelona. Transfeminist and vegetarian by conviction. Lover and activist of the bonds created and watered from love.
He studies Philology & Roman Cultures and Theater for non-conventional spaces. He writes monologues and recites. He has published two books of poetry and short stories. He taught himself photography and specializes in capturing movement artists. He loves traveling by bike and freestyle dancing.
JUAN MANUEL CLAVIJO
PAULA MULATTI
Photography Responsible
In charge of workshops and artists
Colombian farmer living in Barcelona, whose goal has already been achieved: studying photography at the Institut d'Estudis Fotogràfics de Catalunya. Creator and editor of Mixology in Action, he loves cocktails, beer, and music. He lives to travel and spread peace of mind. Inequality bothers me greatly, which is why I also do photojournalism and street photography.
Chilean architect dedicated to heritage and landscape, Master in Cultural Management. He began photography out of innocence and ended up framing his world in 35mm. She is a member of Cooperativa Atkins, a community of photographers and alternative processes founded in Valparaíso. Pilgrim of parties and birthdays, afraid of piñatas and hard sports, taster of thresholds and corners, inevitably moved by good intentions