raft is a new adventure in my life and will hopefully fulfil a dream I have carried with me for 45 years, to make and publish my own books. Ever since I began to work within the design department at Arnolfini Gallery in Bristol in 1987, I have been fascinated by how the form of the photography book can open up such rich possibilities for an artist. From the very beginning of each new work, each new landscape study, I am searching for an original structure or form, to bring together pictures and text which articulate the ideas being explored.
raft books will feature photography studies which are philosophic reflections on Life, Art, Natural History and the Earth Sciences. Some will carry essays commissioned by leading writers in the fields covered. Though I struggled to pass my English Language ‘O’ level I love writing short texts or essays to accompany, give context and open up meaning to a photographic study, each book will contain such writings
raft will initially publish two books a year, one drawn from my archive and one of a new body of work. I am also increasingly working collaboratively and raft will provide a platform to publish the results of these endeavours. The first of these ’27 Indications of Spring’, will come out as a series of titles spread over the coming years.
raft has gathered a wonderful group of individuals who are helping to make the dream a reality. Rudi Thoemmes is a generous mentor, Josie Atkinson and Jess Thoemmes-Tondowski at RRB Photobooks provide publishing advice and will market and distribute the books, Andrew Nadolski is my design advisor and Eleanor Macnair organises the publicity.
The books will be printed at Narayana Press, a specialist arts printer in Denmark.
- Jem Southam