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Utopia: a perfect place or no place?

The third edition of the Artphilein Photobook Contest grants the winner with the production of a photobook to be published by Artphilein Editions, a residency and an exhibition at the Artphilein Library space in Lugano/Paradiso.

The 25 long listed artists are:
David Nana Opoku Ansah
Lehmann Arthur
Fabrizio Bilello
Alessandro Bo
Nils Böddingmeier
Pietro Cardoso
GURAM Chachanidze
Sofiya Chotyrbok
Irene Ferri Ferri
Les Acanthes (collective)
Lea Greub
Jack Hems
José Herrera
Reinis Hofmanis
Paula Humberg
Linette Lin
Luca Marianaccio
Alisa Martynova
Alvin Ng
Mara Palena
Manuel Pérez Barba
Josefine Rauch
Louis Roth
Marco Waldis
Tianyu Wang

Every utopian vision shares the belief in a possible change, in a different future. However, the definition and understanding of utopia are inherently ambiguous and indefinite on multiple fronts, starting from its etymology – eu (good) + topos or ou (non) + topos – to connected meanings and concrete implementations: is it positive or negative? Is it a connotation of a desirable future or mere criticism of the present? Is it a projection of a fantastic vision or a dangerous totalitarian drift? Is it a better elsewhere or the worst solution?

Despite the repeated failures of past utopias – be they political, social or ideological – while fully aware of this uncertainty, we continue to be attracted by unreality and unfeasibility, by technological, ecological and communal utopias, by the chimera of a perfect place or a non-existent one.



In a historical moment of crisis and conflict, the theme of utopia is alive and kicking, offering a variety of interpretations and approaches to the search for a better future. 
How does contemporary photography confront utopian visions and dimensions today?

The members of the jury are Michela Becchis, Caterina De Pietri, Anne Nwakalor and Ronald Pizzoferrato.