LiveLab Bern - Alex Majoli, Alex Webb, Cristina de Middel and Newsha Tavakolian

Early this summer, four Magnum photographers came to the Swiss capital to work together on a project recording their impressions of the country’s unique system of federal democracy.

It is the latest in a series of ‘LiveLabs‘ that have taken place in cities as diverse as London, Shenzhen and Moscow over the past few years. The residence program, instigated by Magnum, usually partners three or four photographers with a curator and a cultural institution to make work about a particular community or locale. Each time it’s a different mix, but each edition is realized as a kind of experimental laboratory where ideas are explored together on the hoof and then presented as a pop-up exhibition immediately afterward, revealing the photographers’ creative thought processes and decision-making to the public.

This time around, Alex Majoli, Cristina de Middel, Newsha Tavakolian and Alex Webb came to the Swiss capital during the first two weeks of June to examine the political process in and around Bern’s Federal Palace. But LiveLab Bern is a little different to previous editions in that the outcome won’t be seen until next year, when Switzerland celebrates the 175th anniversary of its federal democracy. The work will be published as a book by Sturm & Drang alongside an exhibition at Kornhaus Forum Bern, only steps away from the Federal Palace.

[peteyoutside]

What is that telephoto lens Alex Majoli is using?? Looks like one of those super cheap amazon ones.

[jasongold]

Interesting, but sadly no images! Use of FLASH, to me an old photojournalist, very concerning! The Swiss were one of the lat democracies, to allow the women to vote! Long lenses! I seen many prints on desk, but if say Majoli, uses film, how" Time delay! The 'Rochester Project' was a dismal failure! I can't work alongside any photographer.. My Space! well worth seeing what they actually did!

[jasongold]

many words, nothing said! Only Alex Webb has a camera made for PJ. Majoli an old analog rig, that looks like crap. The rest huge DSLR's and flash! Flash! Magnum like film, is dead.