laif : Kumbh Mela - the world's largest gathering in India, Chicago shots, 2009 calendar, The Survivors

The world’s largest festival is celebrated every twelve years in India. Millions of pilgrims gather at the Kumbh Mela, to seek redemption by bathing in the holy Ganges. Thomas DORN’s photographs take us right into the heart of the crowds, capture the colours and carefully approach the pilgrims, Sadhus, carnies and tradesmen.

In spring 2007, Michael WOLF was asked by the Museum of Contemporary Photography, Columbia College Chicago, to take part in the U.S. Equities Realty artist-in-residence programme, and photograph Chicago. Michael chose the centre of Chicago and focused his perspective on the voyeuristic aspects and urban landscape of an ever-expanding city. The results will be on display at the Robert Koch Gallery until 3 January 2009, entitled : "Transparent City von Michael Wolf".

Picture five partners at a table, each contemplating a collective project which enables them to best apply their skills and experience. Those five partners are: Arctic Paper, eye-d designbüro, Andreas Herzau, laif and Stürken Druck. The result : a diary for 2009. Each day is accompanied by a different picture.

Lena. Portrait of a German-Russian emigration 2003-2008, a photo exhibition by Stefan VOLK will be on show at the Deutschen Auswandererhaus Bremerhaven until 15 January 2009. Lena now lives in Paderborn and works as a teacher in a Kindergarten. She left her Siberian hometown of Slawgorod in 2004 and came to Germany via a border immigration centre.

Traditional domestic situations are being challenged by globalisation. From frosty northern Eurasia to the dryness of Australia’s deserts, they are on the search for a home in the global village. They are survivors – natives, that have become confident citizens of our world. This book will open our eyes to what is happening today. Countless richly illustrated reports portray selected ethnicities from all the world’s climate zones – from Japan’s Ainu to South Africa’s Zulu.

The Survivors
F.H.Ullmann
Ed. Hendrik Neubauer
352 pages, over 500 illustrations
Format: 230 x 295 mm
ISBN: 978-3-8331-4627-5
€ 39,95, CHF 67,00