Contra is a not-for profit publication that explores the relationship between art and conflict. Each thematic edition will focus on different interactions between society affected by conflict and visual culture. The first issue, titled Displacement, explores the visual response to current and past migrations.
BG Muhn on the art of North Korea
North Korea’s public image is carefully curated by its government, leading to a widely held view that the nation’s cultural sector is devoted solely to propaganda and therefore lacking in artistic merit. Yet art is a crucial part of North Korean society, and at a time when the political situation surrounding the country appears to be reaching a turning point, this subject is receiving an increasing amount of attention.
Photo series offers a new perspective on life for migrants in Paris
Disposable Perspectives is a photography project that gives those affected by the refugee crisis the chance to document their own stories. Founder Amy Lineham presents a series of photographs taken by migrants in Paris.
Acting in Concert: Calum Bowden’s Calls of Duty
“I wanted to use trolling to address serious issues and ask questions.” London-based artist Calum Bowden, whose work examines our relationship with emerging technologies, is discussing Calls of Duty, his 2016 collaborative performance project that comprised a series of group vocal interventions within the popular first-person shooter games Call of Duty and Counter Strike.
Now Here
With his recent project, Now Here, photographer Tom Hatton depicts the desolate landscapes of the Calais Jungle. Unpopulated, yet packed with detail, these haunting images effectively trace the human experience.
Contra 01 Launch
Contra Issue 01 is here!
Come celebrate the launch of our print issue at the Rich Mix in Shoreditch, with art, music and drinks.
Home Lost, Home Found
HOME LOST, HOME FOUND is a short film made by Friends of Médecins Sans Frontières, a student charity supporting the work done by Médecins Sans Frontières.
Guardians of the Galaxy
"This motion picture is dedicated to France. More than 300 years ago French missionaries were sent to Indochina to teach love of God and the love of fellow man. Gradually, French influence took shape in the Vietnamese lands. Despite many hardships they advanced their way of living and the thriving nation became the rice bowl of Asia. Vast bridges were developed under French guidance until 1941 when Japanese troops moved in…"
System of Systems
System of Systems is a transdisciplinary research project founded in 2016 by Rebecca Glyn-Blanco, Maria McLintock and Danae Papazymouri, which explores the legal framework and technology present in the European asylum-seeking systems. Contra caught up with its founders to find out more about the project’s aims and its increasing relevance in relation to displacement and migration.
