Theme for Guest Room

Guest Room aims to inspire collaboration and creative exchange. In this edition, Christine Serchia, partners with British Sri Lankan author, journalist and critic Charlotte Jansen.

Together, they introduce the theme for your submissions:

"The Dark Before Dawn"

"'It's always darkest before the dawn' – so goes an old proverb, an adage that seems apt for our times. The metaphor is meaningful too in photography in a literal sense, in the darkroom where, from nothing, an image suddenly, alchemically appears, where light is a precious resource to be used purposefully and with care. Yet without the dark, there would be no contrast. Chiaroscuro masters of the Italian Renaissance understood well. Photography too, relies on contrast, but also bears witness and makes visible what the darkness cannot conceal. In bringing to light what we hold dear and true, we seek out ways in which photography brings light in the darkest moments. We welcome work that challenges the idea of where and how the light can be found, and experiments with evoking magic, levity and hope. This is a collective exploration of how, even in difficult times, photography reminds us that it is both the darkness and the light that allow us to see."

Why submit to Guest Room?

• Be discovered by an expert in contemporary art and photography
• Get published in an online showcase on Der Greif alongside emerging artists from all over the world
• Submit for free or pay a voluntary donation of 10€
• Please note: Images which have been selected for a previous Der Greif opportunity are not eligible for re-submission. We want to support the broadest range of photographers possible and therefore encourage you to submit work that has not yet been selected by our past Guest Curators. Any images which do not comply with these terms will be removed from the selection process.

Voluntary donation

Der Greif is a registered non-profit. In these challenging economic times – especially for arts organizations and artists – we are convinced to provide a vital platform for our community. If you're in the position to support this mission, we value your support.

Since launching Guest Room in January 2015, we've invited a broad range of professionals (gallerists, editors, curators) to create opportunities for artists to share their work and get it in front of an international network they might not have access to otherwise. We are more commited than ever to continue this work.

We suggest a voluntary 10€ donation to help us sustain these efforts. If you'd like to support us further, we also accept regular donations via our Raisely page.

If you're unable to contribute financially, please email voucher-guestroom-2@dergreif.org to receive a 50% or 100% discount code. Your artistic and financial contributions enable our continued growth.

About Christine Serchia

Christine Serchia is an American-British Director and Curator for SERCHIA, a contemporary gallery, art book library, artist residency, and creative studio run from her home in Bristol, UK. She is Curator and Editor of Valentine Editions, a digital platform and publishing imprint highlighting visionary photographic work. Christine is an award-winning Art Director, Concept Strategist, and Creative Producer who explores themes of identity, connection, nature, and technology through photography.

About Charlotte Jansen

Charlotte Jansen is a British Sri Lankan author, journalist and critic based in London. Jansen writes on contemporary art and photography for The Guardian, The Financial Times, The New York Times, British Vogue and ELLE, among others. She is the author of Girl on Girl: Art and Photography in the Age of the Female Gaze, (HACHETTE, 2017) and Photography Now (TATE, 2021). Jansen is the curator of Discovery at Photo London.

About Der Greif Guest Room

Guest Room is a monthly online exhibition with open submissions curated in real-time by personalities from the international photography scene. Der Greif is an award-winning organization for contemporary photography. It is print-publication, online-publication, curatorial team and joint project all at once. Der Greif connects the digital and the analogue, exploring and expanding the borders and limits of image-distribution and -reception in the digital era.