Photo book! Photo-book! Photobook!

By Sean O’Toole

In 2020, writer and curator Sean O’Toole embarked on a long-term research project focusing on the South African photobook. Supported by A4 Arts Foundation, the project included two exhibitions presented in Cape Town in 2022 and Kyoto, Japan, in 2026 and culminated with the publication of the sumptuous new book, Photo book! Photo-book! Photobook! But what exactly is a photobook? And why do photobooks matter in understanding South Africa’s rich photographic history? Sean will answer these and many other questions around this neglected area of art publishing.