The Photo Vault: A journey into Vernacular Photography, Archives and Photobooks

In this episode, we hear from an artist who, according to reliable sources, is BIG IN JAPAN—Dutch artist Chantal Rens. Her lifelong obsession with collecting has shaped her into a collage artist creating surrealist images brimming with fantasy and a hint of desire. What she desires, we’ll uncover in this conversation. A favorite quote: “If people see my work, they get happy”—something rarely said about contemporary art.Listen as Chantal, in her own words, makes art out of "useless stuff," bringing a unique touch of humor to her creations.Follow us on Instagram:@Vernacular Social Club@Lukas BirkBecome a Vernacular Social Club member

Welcome to the Photo Vault, featuring books that inspire you! Today, we’re exploring the work of one of my favorite storytellers in the form of a photo book that uses a lot of vernacular photography—Kurt Tong. Listen to this episode to gain insight into why he values these three bodies of work.Dracula - Bram Stoker The Haunting of Bly Manor - Mike Flanagan Philip Pullman - His Dark Material  Follow us on Instagram:@Vernacular Social Club@Lukas BirkBecome a Vernacular Social Club member

In this episode, I take you to Singapore, where I attended the Singapore International Photo Festival with the Myanmar Photo Archive. During my time there, I met Roy Ng, a curator at the National Gallery Singapore. Our conversation quickly turned into a deep dive into the evolving cultural landscape of Singapore—how the city-state is positioning itself as a regional cultural hub, the complexities of representation, and the role of institutions in shaping artistic narratives. Roy shares his insights on decolonization, the challenges of curating national identity, and the global structures of art history. Join me as we explore these themes and more in a fascinating discussion about art, institutions, and cultural memory.National Gallery  Myanmar Photo ArchiveThe Buddhist ArchiveRumah Abu: Death and the Photographic Medium in Straits Chinese Ancestral HallsFollow us on Instagram:@Vernacular Social Club@Lukas BirkBecome a Vernacular Social Club member

In this episode of The Photo Vault, we speak with the wonderfully insightful Chiara Capodici about her experience in the photobook world. From the "mythical times" in Europe 20 years ago to today's bookselling landscape, portfolio reviews, and photobook publishing, Chiara shares her journey and perspectives.Chiara runs Leporello Books in Rome, Italy—a bookshop primarily devoted to photography, graphic design, architecture, and illustration. It also serves as an exhibition space focused on books and images, promoting a multidisciplinary approach to visual culture.In addition, Chiara teaches, curates, and creates across a broad range of photography-related topics.Find links here to people and places mentioned in the episode:Leporello BooksSebastian Hau  Sugarpaper Markus Schaden & Frederic Lezmi  Follow us on Instagram:@Vernacular Social Club@Lukas BirkBecome a Vernacular Social Club member

We all need inspiration, and books can certainly provide it. Today, we explore some wonderfully unusual inspirations from Dutch collage artist Chantal Rens. Her book selections stem from her deep love for animals. Discover more through her descriptions, and see links to the books she discusses below:Mijn lama, Diekman Miep Counting sheep  Hans van der Meer erik Kessel - in almost every picture 9SOUVENIR - ROLAND TOPOR Follow us on Instagram:@Vernacular Social Club@Lukas BirkBecome a Vernacular Social Club member