Horrific images depicting ongoing atrocities in Palestine and Israel have flooded the news, media, and our social media timelines over the past weeks. Meanwhile, other violent events are taking place in Ukraine, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan and various other regions in the world. Foam, as part of the global photography community, is deeply concerned about the loss of human lives and the violation of human rights.

What can photography do? As a museum and magazine, Foam is committed to photography as an artistic medium, and above all to its function to start conversations and facilitate understanding. Its power lies in the ability to offer different perspectives through which we can learn about the viewpoints of others, whilst sometimes also directly mirroring our own assumptions and biases.

On 10 February 2024, Foam organises a symposium on photography and conflict in our museum. We aim to address the complexity of the current media landscape, ranging from topics such as the role of social media and citizen journalism, to the difficulty in tracing sources and the role of both image editors and algorithms in fostering opinion and polarization. Above all, we aim to facilitate space for dialogue and create understanding of the different perceptions of reality, not just by researching what we see, but also by providing a platform for voices and subjects that are often overlooked or excluded from the narrative. 

The Photography & Conflict programme serves as a pivotal guide for a research initiative that Foam is committed to over the next few years, focusing on the theme of photography and conflict. This commitment will extend beyond the dialogues of the symposium, influencing upcoming exhibitions and various artistic expressions within the overarching theme. Through this sustained engagement, Foam seeks to not only address the intersection between visual storytelling, media dynamics, and the impact of technologies, but also commits to an ongoing search for authentic perspectives.