GLORIOUS GRIDS!

TYPOLOGY PROJECTS INVOLVE TIME,

an unwavering dedication to a vision, and a rare devotion to photographic work. Part art practice and part document, typologies present collected information that gives viewers a new perspective on a detail of life that the photographer wants to draw our attention to.

Working meticulously and with specific selfimposed rules, Hilla and Bernd Becher set the standard when they obsessively documented industrial structures for over 30 years. The German photo duo toiled and inadvertently created a new genre of photography that has inspired subsequent generations. It’s impossible to take a history of photography course that doesn’t mention them. Their work has had a significant impact on me and the artists in this edition, without a doubt.

This issue presents the work of Canadian photographers who have taken on their own typology projects. From portraits, to shopping carts, to hair, to Chinatown architecture, to leopard print fabric, this issue celebrates their work and asks them to tell us more about why they have become obsessed with their subjects.

We’re honoured to share glimpses of these projects with you in this edition.

Looking ahead, I’m really excited about our 2022 season. Not just because we’ll be sharing more Canadian photography stories (in print and online, and through virtual events), but also because we have the pleasure of hosting a year of guest issue curators! A first for photoed, thanks to a special grant from the Canada Council for the Arts. First up, on our Spring/summer 2022 edition, is Djenabé who is already killing it planning ideas for her Fashion X Future issue. Get ready for some truly unique work. We just can’t wait to share it with you – soon!

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Your Editor,

“What is photography other than collecting?”

— Hilla Becher