The international calibre of AFP 2017 is evident in Identity-themed exhibitions featuring some of the world’s best photojournalism. These include a series, curated by Bangladeshi artist, activist and photographer Shahidul Alam, that opens at Silo 6 on June 1, the launch of this year’s festival.

Artists with work featured include J.D. Okhai Ojeikere (from Nigeria), Kim Hak (Cambodia) Dina Goldstein (Canada), Shahria Sharmin (Bangladesh), Çağdaş Erdoğan (Turkey) and Pushpamala N (India). “Far too often, we take refuge in comfortable spaces,” Dr Alam says. “These are artists who have dared to think differently. While each body of work does deal with who we are, how we perceive ourselves, and how others perceive us, that approach has merely been a launch pad for more probing questions. One artist objects to her work being labelled as being about identity. Being situated in a silo is pertinent to the theme. It is the silos in our mind we need to deal with.”

June 1 also sees new work by Janet Lilo revealed for the Annual Commission by Baker+Douglas. Other festival highlights include Talking Culture events and Satellite exhibitions throughout the region and AFP’s ‘people’s competition’ shot over 24hours in Nikon Auckland Photo Day on June 10.

“The Auckland Festival of Photography is in its 14th year and our commitment to sharing great photography with our audience is undimmed,” says Julia Durkin. “Photography is something everyone can relate to and take part in as a creative and personal means of expression. This can be seen through the incredible support by New Zealand photographers across the entire programme, from the leading artists such as the recently passed icon Marti Friedlander, Laurence Aberhart, Mark Adams, to the emerging stars of Maori + Pacific photography, with Grant Apiata, Russ Flatt, Tanu Gago, Terry Koloamatangi Klavenes, Emily Mafile’o, Natalie Robertson, Raymond Sagapolutele, Sililga Setoga, Pati Solomona Tyrell, Tuafale Tanoa’i aka Linda T in Ata Te Tangata and the all-female historic exhibition, Real Pictures with Sue Gee, Megan Jenkinson, Marie Shannon, Deborah Smith and Jenny Tomlin.

 “AFP is leading with innovative ways to offer acknowledgement and reward to the artists and photographers in New Zealand,” Julia Durkin says. “We will shortly announce the winner for a new AFP award, ‘The Spirit of Motion’ by Mazda – offered for entry to any New Zealand photographer exhibiting in this year’s AFP.”

“AFP is a significant photographic event in the Southern Hemisphere and the New Zealand winter calendar,” Julia Durkin says. “We’re confident Aucklanders will again engage with the largest free visual arts festival in the region, to see innovative and important work, and engage in the most accessible art form of our times.”

Full details of AFP 2017 are available at http://www.photographyfestival.org.nz/programme/index.cfm