[Not] Everything’s in Black & White at MØNOMANIA!
MONO founder Erin Nøir will host MØNOMANIA, the Philippine’s first ever black & white photography fair, on September 23 to 24 at the Vetro. Over 250 local and international photographers + B&W enthusiasts are expected to gather at the space for a weekend of connecting + story-making.
Universal and timeless, black & white has long been a prized genre for photographers all over, and for many reasons. For one, it is a minimalist medium that focuses on composition, form, light, shape + texture. Plus, it is a versatile genre often used to showcase depth in a range of subjects + stories. This isn’t to say it’s better than color, but black & white is surely a distinct way to see the world.
To Erin, black & white is a genre with “endless possibilities. It should never be limiting; it’s not just blacks and whites.There are gray areas to it, too.” And with a growing niche community, a dedicated fair was a long time coming.
Christian Tablazon (educator), Tatsuo Suzuki (Void Tokyo publisher + street photographer) for MØNOLogues.
A 200+ spread of black & white A3 prints from various photographers will be displayed on MØNO Wall: Prints Not Dead. Within the first week of the open call, MØNOMANIA received the expected number of entries for the exhibit.
Comrade Leather Goods, Film Folk, KITA and KLTRD will be selling their merchandise at the fair. Food and drinks will be provided during the pre-fair workshops.
Erin is a photographer and the founder of independent project MONO, an up and coming publishing house that will cater to this niche photography community. Formerly, she was the editor-in-chief of Lomography and Frame Zero, studio manager of Thousandfold, and managing consultant + curator of Vetro.
Erin has created a diverse body of work encompassing various subjects with a diaristic approach — evoking an intimate, mysterious disposition that is distinctly hers. Her works have been exhibited and featured in the Philippines, Japan, Singapore, Cambodia, Italy and Malaysia. She has also participated in the following photography programs: Invisible Photographer Asia (mentorship program), Angkor Photo Festival (professional workshops), Kyotographie (masterclass), PHotoESPAÑA (portfolio reviews) and Mt. Rokko International Photo Festival (exhibition).
ASPACE is the owner and operator of the Philippines’ largest and most innovative co-working spaces for the innovation community. The mission of ASPACE in 2014 was to enable more and more people within Manila’s innovation community to make amazing things happen. ASPACE succeeded with 1700% growth, and noticeable impact on the way people design, run, and use their workplaces and talent.
ASPACE is the largest community in the country – by size and members – for aspirational start-ups looking to an Asian market, growing teams laying roots in the Philippines, new companies arriving in the Philippines to test ideas, and ambitious professionals from everywhere – with everything you would expect from a managed workspace, plus professional support services, networking, event space, programs and a gallery. Oh, and coffee. Great coffee.