The Photographer’s Green Book:
Across the S.E.A.
by Lee Chang Ming
Across the S.E.A. is a directory of photography organizations and initiatives in Southeast Asia and beyond created by Lee Chang Ming during his time participating in The Photographer’s Green Book’s Traveler’s Residency in February 2022. This resource list aims to consolidate and make accessible various photography-related initiatives in Southeast Asia to expand the diversity of those represented in the conversation of photography, thus shifting away from a Western-centric echo chamber. This non-exhaustive list can be a starting point to discover other resources, photographers, and diverse perspectives. In addition to Lee’s research, there was an open call for submissions. We received submissions from not only Southeast Asia but also from South and East Asia. As such, we decided to include those organizations and initiatives as well to provide an expanded scope of what is happening in the wider region. There were several limitations to the research such as the duration of the residency period and language barriers.
There are a range of types of organizations included in this list such as online platforms, galleries, publishers, artist collectives, archives, educational platforms, residencies, photography festivals, and so on. The columns in the directory below can be sorted according to alphabetical order by clicking on the respective headers.
View the searchable google speadsheet here.
| Name | Country/Location | Type | Description | Website / Link | Additional Link | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pathshala | Bangladesh | Educational Platform | Pathshala is the early school of photography in South Asia region, which offers various short-term and long-term educational programs in photography, film and multimedia journalism throughout the year. Pathshala started in 1998. Since then, the institution has slowly grown to become a fully-fledged photography educational institution based in Dhaka, Bangladesh. | https://pathshalainstitute.org/ | https://www.instagram.com/pathshala.institute | pathshala.office@gmail.com |
| Drik Picture Library | Bangladesh | Media Organisation, Gallery | Drik (the Sanskrit word for vision) Picture Library Limited was founded in Dhaka, Bangladesh by a small group of people who wanted to give photographers in developing countries a platform on which they could display their own images of the world they lived in. Moved to act in light of the fact that “Most of the images of the developing world are taken by white non-indigenous photographers, either in-country staff of the above organisations or commissioned professional photographers sent in-country,” Drik’s mission is to collect, sell and distribute high-quality images of the developing world by the developing world. | https://drik.net/ | https://www.instagram.com/drikbangladesh/ | office@drik.net |
| Chobi Mela | Bangladesh | Photography Festival | Chobi Mela, the first festival of photography in Asia, is one of the most exciting ventures that Drik and Pathshala has initiated. The first Chobi Mela – International Festival of Photography was held in December 2000 - January 2001. | https://chobimela.org/ | https://www.instagram.com/chobimela/ | chobimelabd@gmail.com |
| Cuci Mata Zine | Brunei | Publisher/Publication | A zine dedicated to the photography and the growing community of photographers in Brunei | https://www.instagram.com/cucimatazine/ | ||
| Photography Talk Series | Cambodia | Educational Platform | Photography Talk Series is a presentation platform for photographic practices, welcoming a wide range of topics and approaches by photographers working in art, journalism, documentary, street, etcetera, as well as curators or scholars focusing on photography. The series will offer local and international photo-based practitioners to share their works, while meeting, exchanging and networking with others. The series also aims to offer professional workshop to young Cambodians interested in professional photographic practices an opportunity to learn. The talks will take place at different venues across Phnom Penh on a monthly basis, in Khmer and English languages. Photography Talk Series is organized by artist and photographer Lim Sokchanlina. | https://www.facebook.com/photographytalkseries | limsokchanlina@gmail.com | |
| Sa Sa Art Projects | Cambodia | Gallery, Residency, Educational Platform | Sa Sa Art Projects is a Cambodian artist-run space dedicated to experimental and critical contemporary art practices. It was founded in 2010 by the Cambodian arts collective Stiev Selapak and operated from the historic and vibrant apartment complex known as the White Building until 2017, when the building was demolished for new development. At its new location, Sa Sa Art Projects has shifted toward a stronger engagement with Cambodian young artists and art graduates while continuing to build a deeper dialogue with artists within Asia through its creative education programs, exhibitions, its signature Pisaot artist residency, and other special collaborative projects. | https://www.sasaart.info/ | https://www.facebook.com/sasaartprojects | |
| Photo Phnom Penh | Cambodia | Photography Festival | Photo Phnom Penh is an event organized by non-governmental organization, Photo Phnom Penh Association (PPPA) focus on the photography skills, to develop training opportunities for young photographers. Organizing Photo Phnom Penh festival every year in Cambodia; giving access to contemporary creation in the field of image and photography, through free exhibitions in urban public spaces; developing training opportunities in the field of image and photography (workshop, cultural mediation); promoting and supporting young Cambodian artists in the field of image and photography. | https://www.photophnompenh.org/ | photophnompenh@gmail.com | |
| Angkor Photo Festival & Workshops | Cambodia | Photography Festival, Educational Platform | Since we began in 2005, the Angkor Photo Festival & Workshops has nurtured Asia’s photographic community by providing an affordable and accessible platform for professional development and exchange. We are Southeast Asia’s longest-running international photography event, and believe in supporting the vibrant and dynamic photographic community that has arisen in Asia. We strive to be a space for promoting Asian contributions to the medium and language of photography. | https://angkor-photo.com/about/ | https://www.instagram.com/AngkorPhotoFest/ | info@angkor-photo.com |
| Asia Art Archive | Hong Kong | Archive, Educational Platform, Grants | Asia Art Archive (AAA) is an independent non-profit organisation initiated in 2000 in response to the urgent need to document and make accessible the multiple recent histories of art in the region. With one of the most valuable collections of material on art freely available from its website and onsite library, AAA builds tools and communities to collectively expand knowledge through research, residency, and educational programmes. As AAA celebrates its twentieth anniversary, we are grateful for everyone’s continued support in making a more generous art history possible. See less | https://aaa.org.hk/en | https://www.instagram.com/asiaartarchive/ | info@aaa.org.hk |
| Lumenvism | Hong Kong | Educational Platform, Gallery, Library | Lumenvisum is a non-profit art organisation dedicated to the promotion of photography. Founded by four veteran photographers in 2007, it is a platform for cultural exchange, educational outreach, sharing of resources, and building of knowledge. Since its inception, Lumenvisum has collaborated with more than 60 artists for more than 50 exhibitions of photography in Hong Kong. | http://www.lumenvisum.org/site2022/en/home/ | http://www.facebook.com/lumenvisum.hk | info@lumenvisum.org |
| Queer Reads Library | Hong Kong | Library, Online Platform | Queer Reads Library (QRL) is a mobile collection of books and independently published zines centred around queer narratives and themes. Catalyzed by the removal of ten LGBTQ-themed children’s books from public shelves by the Hong Kong Public Library in June 2018, QRL was created in Fall 2018 to cultivate a space where queer people can gather and celebrate their narratives. In the beginning, we asked ourselves: “Where is the queer community in Hong Kong?” QRL, much like queer gender and sexuality, is fuelled by the fluid, experimental, and (sometimes) mischievous. We are interested in where our library will take us and who wants to engage with queer histories and narratives, specifically through printed matter. QRL aims to connect and collaborate with queer Asian people in the continent and in the diaspora. | https://qrlib.net/ | https://www.instagram.com/queer_reads_library/?hl=en | |
| WMA | Hong Kong | Online Platform, Educational Platform, Archive | WMA is a series of non-profit programmes developed to spark awareness and engage the public on social issues of great importance to Hong Kong through visual images, with a view to fostering positive societal change. WMA believes that art can be a powerful means to raise the awareness of social concerns. | https://wma.hk/ | https://www.instagram.com/wma_hk/ | info@wma.hk |
| Phoboko | Hong Kong | Online Platform, Educational Platform, Publisher/Publication, Artist Collective | Phoboko is a platform for bringing people together through photobooks and the topics they contain. We host monthly meetings and use photobooks as a tool to talk about issues related to photography, to question new photographic work, and to openly share ideas via participatory methods. Our emerging community interrogates photography as a medium, promotes the vision of local Hong Kong artists, and we do so while in dialogue with other photographers in the Asia-pacific region. | http://www.instagram.com/phoboko | littledotrice@gmail.com | |
| Hong Kong International Photo Festival | Hong Kong | Photography Festival | The Hong Kong International Photo Festival (HKIPF) was launched in 2010. In each edition, the Festival focuses on a different theme, introducing noteworthy photographers, trends, and movements and discussing manifold issues and perspectives. Through a wide range of public programmes, the Festival bridges Hong Kong and international visual practitioners, creating conversations between people and place, past and present, and oneself and the world. | https://hkipf.org.hk/ | info@hkipf.org.hk | |
| Hong Kong Photobook Festival | Hong Kong | Photography Festival | To promote photobook culture, Hong Kong Photobook Festival was founded by Lumenvisum in 2020. The Festival aims to connect photographers, artists, and a diverse range of publishers and independent groups from all over the world. It also serves as a supporter of emerging artists to gain exposure in the field of contemporary photography. | http://hkphotobookfest.org/ | https://www.instagram.com/hkphotobookfest/ | |
| brownie publishing | Hong Kong | Publisher/Publication | brownie publishing is an independent publisher which works for promoting Hong Kong photography and photobook. | https://www.brownie.com.hk/ | https://www.instagram.com/browniepublishing/ | info@brownie.com.hk |
| Art Asia Archive in India | India | Archive | We document and make accessible the multiple recent histories of art in Asia through digitization, research and programmes. | https://www.instagram.com/asiaartarchiveinindia/ | asiaartarchiveinindia@gmail.com | |
| Alkazi Foundation for the Arts | India | Archive, Educational Platform, Publisher | The Alkazi Foundation for the Arts (AFA) is dedicated to the preservation and study of the cultural history of India. Ebrahim Alkazi, the Foundation’s Chairman and Director, has amassed a private collection of 19th-century photographs, the Alkazi Collection of Photography (ACP) as well as materials relating to the post-Independence theatre in India, the Alkazi Theatre Archives (ATA). Both the collections are housed at the AFA, which carries out research on these extensive holdings in preparation for a continuing series of scholarly publications and exhibitions. | https://alkazifoundation.org/ | https://www.facebook.com/alkazifoundation/ | alkazifoundation01@gmail.com |
| 8:30 | India | Artist collective | 8:30 is an emerging space for visual storytellers, built through collective solidarities by 9 women photographers across India, making work independently and collaboratively. | https://www.instagram.com/eight__thirty/ | ||
| Kanike | India | Artist collective | Kanike is a collective of four artists which is also a space that becomes a breeding ground of ideas not just for us but also to build a community of people. | http://www.kanike.in/ | https://www.instagram.com/kanikestudios/ | kanikestudios@gmail.com |
| The Confluence Collective | India | Artist Collective, Educational Platform, Archive | We are a collective of photographers and researchers working with our respective interests to create a common platform to bring together visual and oral stories of the Darjeeling-Sikkim Himalayas. We endeavour to strengthen this platform by bringing together art practices and research from and of the region. We believe that in doing so we can offer an alternative space to understand the Hills and its history beyond the homogenized, colonial discourses that continue to dominate the understanding of the place. Through close engagements with the local community, we hope to build a strong creative and collaborative platform fostering a culture of knowledge production and sharing from the margins. | https://www.theconfluencecollective.com/about | https://www.instagram.com/theconfluencecollective/ | mail@theconfluencecollective.com |
| Sher-Gil Sundaram Arts Foundation | India | Educational Platform | Sher-Gil Sundaram Arts Foundation (SSAF) seeks to enable conjunctions of artistic and cultural practice that deal with historical memory, and to build expectations for the future. It commits itself to advancing creative independence for art that is founded on freedom of expression, and which is secular. SSAF aims to work in solidarity with initiatives addressing concerns of the marginalized; it supports alternative and heterodox practices. | https://ssaf.in/ | contact@ssaf.in | |
| The Analogue Approach Project | India | Educational Platform | The Analogue Approach Project explores the culture of printmaking, the perspectives of printmakers, and stories behind the images. | https://www.instagram.com/analogueapproachproject/ | ||
| Through Her Lens | India | Educational Platform | Through Her Lens aims to expand photographic practices of women, queer, trans and other marginalised communities in the eight Northeast Indian states and Darjeeling Hills, and create a safe space for the production and representation of their works. | https://www.throughherlens.in/ | ||
| Nazar Foundation | India | Educational Platform, Publisher | Nazar Foundation is a non-profit trust founded in 2010 that aims to promote lens-based art. Recognizing the need of photo practitioners in India, wanting to come together, to form a community, to share and learn, we launched the Delhi Photo Festival in 2011, India's first international photo festival. Publishing followed with the Nazar Photography Monographs as well as other initiatives. | https://www.nazarfoundation.org/ | https://www.instagram.com/thenazarfoundation/ | info@nazarfoundation.org |
| Offset Projects | India | Educational Platform, Residency | Offset Projects works to create channels of engagement in photography and book-making through artist talks, workshops, residencies, curated reading rooms and collaborative exercises in publishing. We believe that story telling lies at the heart of human creative energy. Our goal is to make a space for collective engagement, meaningful critique and reflective inquiry. | https://offsetprojects.in/ | https://www.instagram.com/offsetprojects/ | offsetprojects@gmail.com |
| Museo Camera | India | Gallery, Educational Platform | The journey of Museo Camera began in 2009 in the basement of photographer, historian, archivist, Aditya Arya as a personal collection of photographic equipment. A unique public-private partnership between India Photo Archive Foundation and The Municipal Corporation of Gurugram — it is one of a kind in India with 18,000 sq. ft. of space dedicated to the art of photography. | https://www.museocamera.org/photography-museum | https://www.instagram.com/museo_camera/ | contact@museocamera.org |
| ASAP | art | India | Online Platform | ASAP | art, a part of ASAP Connect, is an editorially driven application for thinking about lens-based art and media with a focus on South Asia. We present critical and art-historical perspectives through short essays, text and video interviews, curated albums of still and moving images as well as a series of audio conversations. | https://asapconnect.in/ | https://www.instagram.com/connectasap | updates@asapconnect.in |
| Northeast Lightbox | India | Online Platform, Residency, Artist Collective, Archive | Responding to an urgency for materializing and facilitating individual and collective expressions of shared concerns and understanding, NELB is an address for a shared call for action in the Northeastern states of India. NELB aims to facilitate more accessibility towards visual art in the public realm as well as generate new audiences. In the process, NELB seeks to cultivate inclusive spaces for dialogue and exchange between audiences and practitioners through workshops, residencies and seminars. At the same time, NELB seeks to bring art directly into the public realm through public actions, interventions and exhibitions. | https://northeastlightbox.com/ | devadeep165@gmail.com | |
| Chennai Photo Biennale | India | Photography Festival | A global photography festival in Chennai with year-round photography activities. | https://chennaiphotobiennale.com/en/index.php | https://www.instagram.com/connectasap | |
| Egaro Photo Festival | India | Photography Festival | A photo festival in Northeast India. Egaro Photo Festival incepted with the idea of showcasing photographs that challenges the widespread notion of what is a 'good photograph'. We also aim to change the way one looks at an exhibition and the way photographs can be displayed, apart from gallery space. | https://www.egarophotofestival.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/egarophotofestival/ | egarochobiutsav@gmail.com |
| Indian Photo Festival | India | Photography Festival | The Indian Photo Festival (IPF) - Hyderabad, a not-for-profit initiative of Light Craft Foundation, is India's longest-running international photography festival showcasing a wide range of photography from India and around the globe with a series of events including talks and discussions, portfolio reviews, screenings & workshops. The IPF creates a platform for professional and aspiring photographers, photography lovers, and the public. The festival strives to promote the art of photography and at the same time addresses social issues through the medium of photography. | https://www.indianphotofest.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/indianphotofest/ | info@indianphotofest.com |
| PIX | India | Publisherm, Educational Platform | PIX is about investigating and engaging with broad and expansive fields of contemporary photographic practice in India, ranging from the application, conceptual standing and adaptability of photography to its subjects: its movement, transmission, appropriation and distinct relation to the allied arts. | http://www.enterpix.in/ | https://www.instagram.com/enterpix/ | pixels2011@gmail.com |
| Indonesian Photography Archive | Indonesia | Archive | Searching, Collecting, Reading, Learning, Researching, and Sharing | https://www.instagram.com/ipa_indonesia/ | ||
| Unhistoried | Indonesia | Archive | Unhistoried is an archive-based project initiated by Arif Furqan and Reza Kutjh in 2017. It focuses on collecting, archiving, researching Indonesian family photographs as an historical artefact from a domestic and personal perspective. We are also exploring the possibilities of archive for artistic work and publication. Our majority of collections concern on Indonesian family archive under the New Order regime (1970s-1990s). | https://unhistoried.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/unhistoried/?hl=en | unhistoried@gmail.com |
| Flock Project | Indonesia | Artist Collective, Publisher | Flock Project is a collective focusing on exploring and experimenting with the various creation, presentation, and publication possibilities of photographic works through the medium of printed matters. | https://www.instagram.com/flockproject/ | https://www.facebook.com/flockproject | thisistheflock@gmail.com |
| PannaFoto Institute | Indonesia | Educational Platform | PannaFoto Institute is a non-profit organization committed to promoting a culture of openness through education in photography and visual storytelling. | https://pannafoto.org/ | https://www.instagram.com/pannafoto/ | info@pannafoto.org |
| Dog Days Photo Lab | Indonesia | Educational Platform, Darkroom | We are a small photo lab based Bandung, Indonesia. Our main goal is to create an inclusive learning space for beginners, enthusiasts, and professionals alike, to explore various facets of photography from analogue film, to darkroom printing, alternative processes and conceptual photography. | https://instagram.com/dogdays_photolab | dogdaysphotolab@gmail.com | |
| Kelas Pagi Yogyakarta | Indonesia | Educational Platform, Gallery, Artist Collective | Kelas Pagi Yogyakarta is a non-profit organization for photography education that frees up tuition fees for everyone with selected students. Kelas Pagi Yogyakarta has a gallery for exhibition and study activities. The activities are learning about photography (technical and non-technical),short classes or workshops for photography genre specifications, and exhibitions. Kelas Pagi Yogyakarta is open to collaborating with the government, companies, institutions, and other communities for education programs. | https://www.instagram.com/kelaspagiyogya/ | wearekelaspagiyogyakarta@gmail.com | |
| Gueari Galeri | Indonesia | Educational Platform, Gallery, Publisher/Publication | Gueari Galeri is an independent publisher and photobook gallery based in Indonesia. Since 2014, we run photobook classes and discussions, and have published more than 30 personal photobook titles created by professional and amateur photographers. | https://instagram.com/guearigaleri | guearigaleri@gmail.com | |
| Red Raws Center | Indonesia | Educational Platform, Gallery, Publisher/Publication, Artist Collective, Archive | RAWS SYNDICATE (RAWS SNDCT) is a photography syndicate founded on 2012 in Bandung. RAWS SNDCT is a syndicated combination of photography and movement businesses. This syndicate aims to build a stable and independent photography ecosystem and be used as a laboratory for exploration, research, and research in the field of photograph.RAWS SNDCT oversees several areas of photography, including: education, publishing, photobook library, archive, exhibitions, space (Red Raws Center),gallery (RWD Photo Gallery),and others. | https://www.instagram.com/rawssndct/ | rawspropaganda@gmail.com | |
| Ruang MES 56 | Indonesia | Educational Platform, Gallery, Publisher/Publication, Residency, Photography Festival, Artist Collective | Ruang MES 56 is an artist collective working cooperatively with their communities and networks to manage a house for studio, education, playground and a place to live in. Formed in 2002, this community focusing on the development of photography and contemporary art crossing over with other disciplines in critical and contextual approaches. | http://mes56.com/ | http://instagram.com/ruangmes56 | mes56post@gmail.com |
| Bicarafoto | Indonesia | Online Platform | Platform for Indonesian photography. | https://bicarafoto.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/bicarafotocom | |
| Heterogenic | Indonesia | Online Platform | An online platform to celebrate the visual diversity, narrative and storytelling approaches within Indonesian photographers community | https://www.instagram.com/htrgnc/ | htrgnc@gmail.com | |
| Melihat Bersama | Indonesia | Online Platform | Melihat Bersama is a storytelling platform using pictures as the medium to communicate and start discussions that could enrich perspectives and ideas. | https://melihatbersama.com/ | https://melihatbersama.com/ | info@melihatbersama.com |
| Women Photograph Indonesia | Indonesia | Online Platform, Artist Collective, Archive | Working to elevate voices of Indonesian women + nonbinary visual storytellers into the world. | https://instagram.com/womenphotograph.indonesia | womenphotograph.indonesia@gmail.com | |
| Arkademy | Indonesia | Online Platform, Educational Platform, Artist Collective | Arkademy is a photography collective with focus on critical and reflective photography education through an interdisciplinary approach. Members of our collective come from various professional backgrounds: documentary photographer, educator, researcher and curator. We are interested in exploring social phenomena through the photographic medium, , the role and influence of photography in society, as well as the relationship between image and life, photographers and their subjects. Members of our collective are based in three cities: Jakarta, Bogor and Yogyakarta. | https://www.arkademy.id/en/ | https://www.instagram.com/arkademyproject/ | arkademyproject@gmail.com |
| BERBAHAYA Network | Indonesia | Online Platform, Educational Platform, Gallery, Publisher/Publication, Artist Collective, Archive | BERBAHAYA Network, stands for BERSAMA BERUSAHA BERKARYA (together, to strive, to produce),an open collective collaboration for all forms of cooperation in the fields of arts and visual communication. Currently BERBAHAYA have carried out a number of activities. Among them are organizing an exhibitions, production services, training, and archiving. | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5fQra_fz6BqinxgoUbyShQ/videos?view=0&sort=da | ridhwan.ermalamora@gmail.com | |
| SOKONG! | Indonesia | Online Platform, Publisher/Publication | SOKONG! is a multiplatform photography publication collective based in Yogyakarta. Initiated by Danysswara, Deni Fidinillah, Kurnia Yaumil Fajar, Moh. A. Ulul Albab, Prasetya Yudha since 2018. SOKONG! supporting publication as an artistic practice in the way of opening up meetings and conversations of photography medium in a sustainable manner. | https://sokongpublish.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/sokong_publish/ | sokongmenyokong@gmail.com |
| Bandung Photography Triennale | Indonesia | Photography Festival | Photography festival in Bandung, Indonesia. | https://bandungphotographytriennale.com/# | https://www.instagram.com/bandungphotographytriennale/ | mail@bandungphotographytriennale.com |
| JIPFest | Indonesia | Photography Festival | The Jakarta International Photo Festival (JIPFest) is a platform for photographers and public to meet, engage and exchange insights, as well as a space for impactful photography projects to reach out to wider audiences. As an international photography festival, JIPFest also aims to foster and propel Indonesian photographers onto the global stage. Photography is a powerful tool. It has the power to educate and advocate, as well as to mobilize and move people. JIPFest, we hope, could be a platform to showcase images that highlight crucial issues, open up dialogues and enrich our perspectives, while increasing the capacity of photographers to create powerful images. JIPFest aims to make a difference in the society. | https://jipfest.com/ | https://instagram.com/jipfest | program@jipfest.com |
| Solo Photography Festival | Indonesia | Photography Festival | Annual photography festival held in Surakarta, Indonesia. | https://www.solophotofestival.com/ | https://instagram.com/solophotofestival | admin@solophotofestival.com |
| The Banda Journal | Indonesia | Publication, Online Platform | The Banda Journal is a collaborative documentary project that highlights the legacy of centuries-long colonization and exploitation in the remote Indonesian Banda Islands. | https://thebandajournal.org/ | https://www.instagram.com/thebandajournal/ | thebandajournal@gmail.com |
| Kamboja Press | Indonesia | Publisher/Publication | Kamboja Press is a unit that focuses on the exploration of risograph printing method through photography and such since 2017. Kamboja Press prints the products with soy-based inks on certified paper within the standards of sustainable forestry. By using certified paper, Kamboja Press wants to make sure that paper comes from responsibly managed forests where people, animals, and trees are all treated with the respect they deserve. | http://www.kambojapress.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/kambojapress/ | contact@kambojapress.com |
| Pekanbaru Heritage Walk | Indonesia | Residency, Artist Collective, Archive | Pekanbaru heritage walk is a movement in Pekanbaru, Riau Province, Indonesia. We are focusing in archiving photos which have city historic background. Pekanbaru Heritage is also an artist collective called serempak.org. | https://instagram.com/pkuheritage | winatabayu0905@gmail.com | |
| Ketemu Project | Indonesia | Residency, Educational Platform | Ketemu Project is an art organization based in Bali that platforms socially conscious actions with art in societies. | https://ketemu.org/ | https://www.instagram.com/ketemuproject/ | meet@ketemu.org |
| Buddhist Archive of Photography | Laos | Archive | Founded in 2005 in Luang Prabang in Northern Laos, the archive contains 35,000 historical photographs taken and collected by the Buddhist monks over 120 years. | https://www.buddhist-archive.org | ||
| Dialect 方言社 | Macao | Educational Platform, Artist Collective | “Dialect” is a photographic collective and platform based in Macau. Co-founded by four independent photographers in 2017, “Dialect” is dedicated to exploring the infinite possibilities of photography and giving new impact in photography to Macau through various forms of exhibitions, discussions and activities. | https://www.photodialect.com/ | info@photodialect.com | |
| Kotak Kamera Trio | Malaysia | Artist Collective | Kotak Kamera Trio is a collective of camera builders and photographers practicing in Malaysia. With common experience in various forms of traditional analog mediums, we have banded together in an aim to promote and showcase these living and physical forms of photography. | https://kotakkameramalaysia.wordpress.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/kotakkameratrio/ | kotakkameramalaysia@gmail.com |
| The Biddy's | Malaysia | Artist Collective | A collective of emerging Malaysian photojournalists. | https://www.thebiddysphoto.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/thebiddysphoto/ | thebiddysphoto@gmail.com |
| Asia Papercamera | Malaysia | Online Platform | Asia Papercamera is an online space for and about photography in Asia. | https://asiapapercamera.com/ | ||
| Exposure+ | Malaysia | Photography Festival | Photography event in Kuala Lumpur with exhibitions, workshops, presentations. | https://www.exposureplusphoto.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/exposureplusphoto/?hl=en | exposureplusphoto@gmail.com |
| Kinabalu Photo Festival | Malaysia | Photography Festival | Photography Festival in Kinabalu, Malaysia. | https://www.kinabaluphotofestival.com/ | jebatlegacy@kinabaluphotofestival.com | |
| Kuala Lumpur International Photoawards | Malaysia | Photography Festival | The Kuala Lumpur International Photoawards [KLPA] is an annual global portrait photography prize seeking the very best and fresh entries from photographers of all levels in two main categories - Single Image open and a Project-based or themed category. Initiated in 2009, KLPA is recognised as a significant and vital award in the photography calendar, supporting and rewarding contemporary portraiture practice especially in the South East Asian region. | https://www.klphotoawards.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/klphotoawards | info@klphotoawards.com |
| Thuma Collective | Myanmar | Artist Collective | Thuma Collective is a group of female photographers from Myanmar, who are dedicated to visual storytelling. | https://www.instagram.com/thuma_collective/?hl=en | https://www.facebook.com/thumacollective | thuma.collective@gmail.com |
| Myanmar Deitta | Myanmar | Educational Platform, Gallery | Myanmar Deitta is a Yangon-based not-for-profit organisation committed to developing the resources for documentary photography, filmmaking and multimedia production in Myanmar. We work to develop training opportunities and workshop programs, host photographic exhibitions and screenings of documentary film and multimedia, and provide support for independent documentary projects. | https://www.deitta.org/ | https://www.instagram.com/myanmardeitta | contact@deitta.org |
| Nepal Picture Library | Nepal | Archive | Nepal Picture Library (NPL) is a digital photo archive run by photo.circle that strives to create a broad and inclusive visual archive of Nepali social and cultural history. Since its inception, NPL has collected over 120,000 photographs from various private and organizational sources across Nepal. The archive serves as a safe and open repository for materials that can secure a multicultural and pluralist representation of Nepali history. It also functions as a medium for active public engagement through which Nepali people can deepen meaningful connections with the past. As part of its objective to create a visually dense version of Nepali history for and with public audiences, NPL has created a network of professionals with interest or specialized knowledge in museum design, preservation, curation, exhibition, graphic design, oral history, writing, education, ethnography, visual culture, media, art history, photography, and publishing. | https://www.nepalpicturelibrary.org/ | https://www.instagram.com/nepalpiclibrary/ | mail@nepalpicturelibrary.org |
| Photo Circle | Nepal | Educational Platform | photo.circle is a platform for photography in Nepal. Through workshops, publications, exhibitions and commissioned assignment work, photo.circle strives to bring together photographers and other visual storytellers to nurture unique voices that document and engage with social change in Nepal. photo.circle has set up Nepal Picture Library and organizes Photo Kathmandu. | https://www.photocircle.com.np/about/ | https://instagram.com/photocircle_np/ | mail@photocircle.com.np |
| Photo Kathmandu | Nepal | Photography Festival | Nepal’s only international photography festival, which serves as an alternative platform for conversations between visual storytellers and local audiences. | https://photoktm.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/photoktm/ | mail@photoktm.com |
| Luzviminda | Philippines | Archive | Luzviminda is a photo archive promoting Philippine photography. | https://www.luzviminda.ph/ | https://www.facebook.com/luzvimindaphoto/ | info@luzviminda.ph |
| Eternal Frame Collective | Philippines | Artist Collective | Eternal Frame Collective comprises of film-photography enthusiasts who banded together in 2020, which marks the onset of the COVID19 lockdown in the Philippines. The collective was a response to the need for connection when contact and movement were limited. The collective aims to foster community-building, providing a safe space for talking about not only film-related interests but also mundane happenings which, shared by its members, builds up into a collective diary of shared experiences under COVID19 pandemic. | https://www.instagram.com/eternalframeco/ | mission.jeckree@gmail.com | |
| FotomotoPH | Philippines | Artist Collective | FotomotoPH is a photographers' collective originating in Metro Manila, open to nationwide expansion. The objective of FotomotoPH is to promote Philippine photography as a manifestation of our shared experience as a nation, our diversity in perspective, including gender, socio-economic status, age and geography, and as an art form that expresses our identity and culture. | https://fotomoto.ph/ | https://www.instagram.com/fotomoto.ph/ | info@fotomoto.ph |
| Filipino Women and Non-Binary Photographers | Philippines | Database, Online Platform | We aim to build a database dedicated solely to Women and Non-Binary photographers in the Philippines. | https://bit.ly/photographers-database | cd@colindancel.com | |
| Tarzeer Pictures | Philippines | Gallery, Online Platform | Gallery and creative production group in Manila. Dedicated to the creation and development of photo, video and image based works by Filipino artists. | https://tarzeerpictures.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/tarzeerpictures/ | studio@tarzeerpictures.com |
| Shelter Fund | Philippines | Online Platform | An initiative by photographers to aid one another through photography. Through your purchase of our prints, you help keep us safe in our homes, able to continue and contribute, and more importantly, all of us have committed to contributing part of our individual sales to a communal fund, making sure everyone is benefitted by your purchase. | https://www.shelterfund.ph/ | https://www.instagram.com/shelterfund | shelterfund@shutterspacestudios.com |
| We Want Film | Philippines | Online Platform | A non-profit associate of enthusiasts with the desire to explore and highlight the creative possibilities of film in the Philippines. | https://www.instagram.com/wewantfilm/ | https://www.facebook.com/wewantfilm/ | ennuhchew@gmail.com |
| Filipinas Heritage Library | Philippines | Online Platform, Educational Platform, Gallery, Archive | As a one-stop digital research center on the Philippines, our mission is to spark and stoke interest in the story of the Filipino. | https://www.filipinaslibrary.org.ph/ | http://www.instagram.com/filipinasheritagelibrary | asklibrarian@filipinaslibrary.org.ph |
| Thousandfold | Philippines | Educational Platform, Photobook Library | Artist run photobook library focused on education, community events, and small press. | http://facebook.com/thousandfoldph | contact@agdemesaphoto.com | |
| Reading Photographs | Philippines | Online Platform | Writings about photography and photobooks in the Philippines and Asia | https://readingphotographs.asia/ | contact@agdemesaphoto.com | |
| THEBOOKSHOW | Singapore | Educational Platform | THEBOOKSHOW, a platform for photobooks, art, and anything in between. We host open calls and exhibitions. | https://www.thebookshow.org/ | info@thebookshow.org | |
| Objectifs | Singapore | Gallery, Residency, Educational Platform | Established in 2003, Objectifs is a visual arts space in Singapore that is dedicated to film and photography. Our goal is to cultivate original voices in visual storytelling, and to inspire and broaden perspectives through the power of images. We do this by presenting a year round programme of exhibitions, screenings, workshops, talks, mentorships and residencies, aimed at fostering dialogue about visual culture, and advancing the practice and appreciation of photography and film. | https://www.objectifs.com.sg/ | https://www.instagram.com/objectifscentre/ | info@objectifs.com.sg |
| DECK | Singapore | Gallery, Residency, Library | DECK is a contemporary institution where all can gather through photography arts. We are built on the support of a community and envisioned as a space where growth can happen organically with the community at its heart. DECK aims to be a leading platform that promotes visual literacy and champions diversity by showing all facets of contemporary arts and photography to the widest possible audience. DECK also runs the Singapore International Photography Festival. | https://deck.sg/ | https://www.instagram.com/deck_sg/ | meet@deck.sg |
| Grey Projects | Singapore | Gallery, Residency, Publisher, Library | Grey projects (est. 2008) is a library, a residency apartment, a studio, and two galleries. Out of these spaces we generate curatorial and exchange activities. This usually means we make books, exhibitions, talks, residencies, reading groups, and workshops. We are interested in new design practices, writing, curatorial research, and art propositions. | https://www.greyprojects.org/info | https://www.instagram.com/greyprojectssg/ | info@greyprojects.org |
| The Film Initiative | Singapore | Online Platform, Artist Collective | We strive to create a inclusive film community in Singapore — working with brands and independent photography groups to advocate for film. | http://www.instagram.com/thefilminitiative | contact@cobytravis.com | |
| Nope Fun | Singapore | Online Platform, Publisher | Nope Fun is an independent publisher and platform based in Singapore focusing on photography and contemporary image making. | https://nopefun.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/nope_fun/ | hello@leechangming.com |
| National Center of Photography and Images | Taiwan | Gallery, Educational Platform | The mission of the National Center of Photography and Images (NCPI) is to serve as a professional institution for the legacy and development of Taiwan’s photography and image-based arts. With its core functions of collection, research, exhibition, and promotion; and the five perspectives of historical research, public communication, contemporary prospective, and international development; the NCPI hopes to construct discourse and the history of photography and images of Taiwan through its collection and research. | https://ncpi.ntmofa.gov.tw/en/index.html | https://www.instagram.com/ncpi_taiwan/ | ncpi.service@art.ntmofa.gov.tw |
| Lightbox Photo Library | Taiwan | Library, Educational Platform | A nonprofit photography library based in Taipei, Taiwan. Expanding upon the free, open and public-facing nature of both photography and library, we take on the work of collecting and organizing publications of Taiwanese photography. Meanwhile, we strive for public participation because together we construct a photographic culture of our own. Lightbox Photo Library also hosts talks, lectures and workshops, triggering new thoughts and actions through dynamic conversations, encouraging exchanges between participants, and working towards a positive cycle of cultural autonomy and freedom of knowledge. | https://www.lightboxlib.org/lightbox-photo-library | https://www.instagram.com/lightbox_lib/?hl=en | info@lightboxlib.org |
| Fotobook DUMMIES Day | Taiwan | Online Platform, Artist Collective | Fotobook DUMMIES Day is a publication project and a dummy book fair which mainly focuses on photographic publications in a manner of “self-publishing”, within the understanding the nature of the concept of “dummy”. We want to make contacts in between the makers and makers, the makers and readers, to establish a platform wherever their conversations become possible. | https://fotobookdummiesday.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/fotobookdummiesday/ | fotobookdummiesday@gmail.com |
| Voices of Photography | Taiwan | Publisher | Voices of Photography is an independent publication dedicated to image culture. Since its inception in 2011, VOP has been exploring the culture, history and philosophy of photography, and continually promoting imagery reading, critique, and research. VOP has always focused on the development of photography in Asia and places special importance on inter-Asian connections. Through collaborative effort with scholars, artists and cultural workers locally and from all over the world, VOP has been gathering important literature and research materials, presenting rich and varied features with a different theme every issue. Now engaging in the publication of written work and criticism through VOP BOOKS, VOP is one of the rare few independent publishers in Taiwan that focuses on photography and visual culture. | https://vopmagazine.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/vopmagazine/ | hi@vopmagazine.com |
| Realframe | Thailand | Artist collective | Realframe is a group of photojournalists and documentary photographers in Thailand with an interest in issues of human rights, society, politics, environment and natural resources including inequality in various dimensions occurring locally and the ASEAN region using photos as the main tool to tell those stories. They first started working together in 2012 and have continued to produce photographs and documentaries to tell social issues. | https://realframe.co/ | https://www.instagram.com/about_realframe/?hl=en | |
| Vacilando Bookshop | Thailand | Bookshop | An online independent bookshop which displays photobooks and artbooks of various artists and publications from different countries. By using the physical bookshop space, Vacilando Bookshop also creates events related to photography through discussion panels and artist’s talks during photobook launches or photobook showcases to communicate and share perspectives with domestic photographers and people in the community. | https://www.instagram.com/vacilandobookshop | https://www.facebook.com/vacilandobookshop | vacilandobookshop@gmail.com |
| Fotogarten | Thailand | Educational Platoform | Fotogarten is a Thailand-based photography platform that aims to bring new experiences about photography via campaigns and workships. We are global lin reach, connecting Thai to international photography culture. | https://www.instagram.com/fotogarten_/ | fotogarten.team@gmail.com | |
| Hub Of Photography | Thailand | Gallery | Hub of Photography is a gallery and library based in Bangkok, Thailand. They organise exhibitions and talks. | https://www.instagram.com/hubofphotography/ | https://www.facebook.com/hubofphotographybangkok | |
| Chiang Mai House of Photography | Thailand | Gallery, Educational Platform, Library | The Chiang Mai House of Photography was established to collect and preserve photographs for the documentation and understanding of northern Thai culture. Through the collection, local people are made aware of their living heritage and how it is founded in the history of the ancient Lanna kingdom. it offers an extensive resource that is accessible to the public. | https://cmhop.org/en/ | cmhop@cmhop2022.org | |
| D1839 | Thailand | Online Platform | A platform originated by a group of friends who love photo taking, reading and living lives on this beautiful planet. D1839 was established in 2020 under our strong belief that we will be one of the platforms to transfer the legacy of that very first camera on and on. | https://www.d1839.com/en | https://www.instagram.com/d1839magazine/ | contact@d1839.com |
| CTypeMag | Thailand | Online Platform, Gallery | An online photography magazine and independent photo gallery in Bangkok. | https://www.ctypemag.com/ | https://instagram.com/ctypemag/ | ctypemag@gmail.com |
| Arctribe | Thailand | Online Platform, Publisher | Arctribe a new age online magazine from Bangkok, Thailand showcasing mainly photography from different artists around Asia. For our soul-purpose to inspire and act as an outlet for artist community. We wish to attract like minded people and together create a strong bond among us, people who love and appreciate good photography and visual arts! Runs publishing arm Arc Press. | https://www.arctribemag.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/arc.tribe/ | contact@arctribemag.com |
| Writing Foto | Various | Online Platform | Writing Foto is a growing collection of writings on (or surrounding) photography loosely directed at the imaginaries of South/east Asia. | https://writingfoto.wordpress.com/ | https://instagram.com/writing.foto | last.harbour@gmail.com. |
| dé dé photos | Vietnam | Artist Collective | Assignments, publications, workshops. | https://www.instagram.com/dedephotos_vn/ | https://www.facebook.com/dedephotosvn/ | dedephotos.vn@gmail.com |
| Saigon Life Photo | Vietnam | Educational Platform | A collection of works from members of Saigon Life Photo | https://www.instagram.com/saigonlifephoto/?hl=en | ||
| Inlen Photo Gallery | Vietnam | Gallery | Inlen Photo Gallery is a dedicated art space for fine art photography prints and exhibitions in Ho Chi Minh City. Conceptual, documentary, architecture, portrait, travel fine art photos in Vietnam are curated with a great level of quality . | http://www.inlen.photo/ | https://www.instagram.com/inlenphoto/ | |
| Noirfoto | Vietnam | Gallery, Educational Platform | Darkroom, studio, gallery based in Vietnam. Established in 2017, Noirfoto organizes talks, courses, photo contests, exhibitions — providing knowledge and skills from basic to advanced in photography, in conjunction with schools or other art centers in Saigon and Hanoi. | https://noirfoto.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/noirfotodarkroom/?hl=en | noirfotodarkroom@gmail.com |
| Matca | Vietnam | Gallery, Publisher, Online Platform, Residency | Matca is an independent, non-profit initiative dedicated to photography as a form of visual art. Founded in 2016, Matca has evolved across platforms, including but not limited to an online journal, a physical space, and an imprint. The open organizational structure allows us to experiment and adapt to the changing local context. | https://matca.vn/en/ | https://www.instagram.com/matca.vn/ | hello@matca.vn |
| Beautiful Noise Collective | Vietnam | Online Platform, Publisher/Publication, Artist Collective | Beautiful Noise Collective is an online space for sharing photography and photography-related media founded by four Vietnamese photographers. We also host a community of Vietnamese and international creatives; together we have conversations, both online and in person, and explore new narratives and ideas through creating printed media, podcasts, and videos. | http://www.instagram.com/beautifulnoisecollective | beautifulnoisecollective@gmail.com |