SAANS Downtown's annual Holga show, curated by Shalee Cooper, brings together work by artists from around the world in celebration of the unique aesthetic of the plastic "toy" Holga camera. We intend to continue earning our place as the premier international showcase for photographs that are Holga-made.
Born in 1982 in Hong Kong as a decidedly low-fidelity way to capture images to the medium format 120 film favored by commercial photographers of that day, the Holga camera was an ugly-duckling that soon caught the attention of a cadre of aficionados that is still growing.
Its equalizing qualities lie in its simplicity — its utter inability to intimidate the user, no matter how young or inexperienced, and in the unpredictable effects that derive from its cheap plastic construction, along with its lack of precision exposure control. Effects are random and various, but often include minor light links, soft edges, vignetting and other characteristics that would most definitely be undesirable in a "real" camera.
Simplicity and unpredictability make shooting with the Holga entirely subject to the photographer's raw instincts. At the same time, the Holga is easily capable of creative manipulation such as multiple exposures and long exposures, for those who wish to push on with greater experimentation.
For these reasons, SAANS Downtown has embraced the Holga as wonderful way to involve the greater international community of photographers in the creation of a premier, respected annual exhibit with one common thread — the camera itself.
For more information specific to the 2008 show, please see In the Gallery.
To be added to our email list for information on future Holga shows, including calls for entry, please go to Contact Us and make sure and specify your interest in The HOLGA Show.
