In the year 1995, when Imago magazine was founded by the Bratislava association FOTOFO, situation in the field of professional reflection on topical photographic events within Central and Eastern Europe was different from the present one in many respects. On the one hand, most present-day top-ranking photographic magazines of these countries did not exist then. But it was not just this. After revolutionary political changes at the turn of the decade it was not entirely clear what was meant by concepts “European”, “Central European”, “Eastern European” photography or the photography of the “former Eastern bloc” countries. In order to dispute traditional categorization, and at the same time suggest the vastness of newly opened space, the magazine was given the subtitle Another European Photography.
During the ten years of its existence, Imago magazine has created and preserved a specific style, characterized by a balance between formal and content aspects, which makes the magazine rich in high-quality texts and at the same time visually attractive. Imago has expanded its distribution in Europe and overseas, it has found its way to most of world-renowned art schools, galleries and libraries, it was presented on the ground of various relevant festivals and galleries (e.g. Armory Show in New York (USA), Month of Photography in Lodz,, Krakow, Symposium in Skoki (PL), Pelikan Days, Celje, Stolp Gallery in Maribore (Sl), the Reunion of the editors of photography magazines in Prague (CZ), Bratislava (SK) and Berlin (DE), Summer School of Photography in Poprad (SK), Symposium of photography magazines in Kavala (GR)…) . The magazine has found its audience especially among photographers, photography theoreticians and historians, students of visual art but also with many others, who wish to be kept informed on actual course of photographic events in Central and Eastern Europe.
All the above-mentioned achievements for certain would not have been possible without an excellent team of fellow workers, who have helped us willingly since the birth of the magazine. Our thanks go primarily to the graphic artist Jana Lokšenincová, who has created and is still innovating the visual side of Imago. Further we express our thanks for productive cooperation to the editorial board, in which since 1995 have figured: Vilnis Auzins (LAT), Ruxandra Balaci (RO), Yevgenyi Berezner (RU), Vladimír Birgus (CZ), Marek Grygiel (PL), Aurel Hrabušický (SK), Péter Korniss (HU), Peeter Linnap (EE), Elzbieta Lubowicz (PL), Ieva Mazuraite (LI), Paula Mikloševic Muhr (YU), Josef Moucha (CZ), Galina Moskaleva (BY), Jerzy Olek (PL), Irina Tchmyreva (RU) and László Torok (HU). We would like to thank also the authors of texts and all those who have been helping us by sending necessary information, without which the creation of an issue is hard to imagine. For helpfulness and promptness we thank also our translators: Vladimir Vorobjov (in memoriam), Dana Matejovová, Daniel Archleb Levický, Peter Tkác, Karol Tauber, Martin R. Ward, Martin C. Styan, Tamara Archlebová, Mária Kuklová and Ildikó Leontieva, Foart graphic studio and Anton Fiala, Ress s.r.o. Senica and Maxima Press Bratislava print shops. Our special thanks are due to Ministry of Culture of the Slovak Republic and KulturKontakt Austria for a long-term financial support.
It remains only to believe that during the years to come Imago will continue to be a faithful image of “another” European photography.
Lucia Lendelová, Executive Editor
Václav Macek, Editor-In-Chief