What we do

Contra is a not-for-profit independent publication that explores the complex relationship between visual culture and conflict. Published annually, each issue takes a theme related to conflict and considers its role in visual culture both past and present.

Conflict informs the work of many artists, photographers and other visual practitioners. In an era in which images are increasingly ubiquitous and have the ability to shape public opinion, it is important to analyse the way we perceive conflict. Our aim at Contra is to give space to and question these intersections in print and through an ongoing events programme.

In print

Issue 01, titled Displacement, looks at the visual response to current and past migrations. Published in January 2018, it features contributors such as dancer-choreographer Akram Khan, photographer Harley Weir, and Turner Prize nominees Forensic Architecture and Oscar Murillo.

Issue 02, themed around Protest, explores how visual culture engages with and reacts to different forms of resistance. Published in April 2019, it features contributors such as Kara Walker, Olafur Eliasson, Santiago Sierra, Seamus Murphy and Raqs Media Collective.

Our third issue, titled Ruin, is due to be published in spring 2020.

Events

Alongside the publication, we run an ongoing events and community outreach programme that forms an integral part of what we do. By moving beyond the pages of the magazine, we seek to make a tangible difference on the ground and positively impact our community. These events take the form of film screenings, panel discussions, exhibitions, workshops, artist residencies and more. Keep posted on our social media channels for news about what’s coming up.

Who we are

We are a group of passionate volunteers with a varied background in publishing, events, filmmaking and research. The idea to form Contra derived from a shared interest in representations of conflict and a belief that accessible critical analysis of this topic is missing within everyday encounters with media.

Our team

Ben Bohm-Duchen
George Brodie
Lucas Giles
Shivani Hassard
Alexander Morrison

Design by Our Place

Distributed by Antenne Books

Press

“Through the combination of captivating photo essays and insights
into the thoughts of well-known creatives, Contra Journal utilises
art and design to create a platform that communicates stories and
champions unheard voices”
It’s Nice That

“Numerous new art publications pop up every year, and some
stand out more than others. Contra… certainly has a USP”
The Art Newspaper

“Issue 01 of Contra was one of our favourite launches last year”
Stack

“I was really impressed by the way Contra drills down into the
issues it covers and looks at them from a human perspective,
resulting in content that has a real resonance.”
Maurice Wren,
Chief Executive, Refugee Council

An in-depth interview with the Contra founders published by Dazed can be found here.

Stockists
Artwords Bookshop Limited [Broadway Market, London]
Artwords Bookshop Limited [Rivington Street, London]
Athenaeum Boekhandel [Amsterdam]
Basheer Graphic Books [Singapore]
Chandal [Barcelona]
CRUDO [London]
Do You Readme?! GbR [Berlin]
Dispozitiv Books [Bucharest]
Edicola 518 Impresa Sociale Soc. Coop. [Perugia]
Foyles Bookshop [UK]
Frab's Magazines & More [Online]
Average [Toronto]
Homestead Store [Delivery]
Housman's Bookshop [London]
ICA [London]
Magalleria [Bath]
Magazine Office Copies [Delivery]
MagCulture [London]
Magma [London]
Magma [Manchester]
Manifesto-Associacao [Porto]
Materia Prima [Porto]
Mosto Laden [
Multi-Arts Corporation [Taipei]
Papercut [Stockholm]
Photographers Gallery [London]
Print Matters! [Zurich]
Rails London Ltd [Delivery]
Rainbow News [London]
Rare Mags [Stockport]
Reading Room / Francesca Spiller [Milan]
Rosa Wolf [Berlin]
Skylight Books [LA]
Stack [Online]
Tate Modern [London]
Tender Books [London]
Village Bookstore [Leeds]
Walther Koenig Books [Whitechapel Gallery, London]
Walther Koenig Books [Serpentine, London]