The curatorial collective Kublaiklan was founded to create shared experiences in photography and to connect people and ideas. From 2024 to 2025, they served as curators for Cortona On The Move under the artistic direction of Paolo Woods, having collaborated with the festival since 2016. Their curated projects include Living Certosa (2024) in Milan and The Cooling Solution (2023), which later toured internationally to venues such as Photoville New York. In 2019, they curated Baci From Cortona and the outdoor exhibition Fontanesi. Since 2017, Kublaiklan has also led photography workshops with the Child Neuropsychiatry Department of AUSL Reggio Emilia. The collective firmly believes in photography’s power to educate, embrace diverse viewpoints, and strengthen community by bridging the gap between the individual and society.
Guided by this vision, they have opened a space called K! in Turin. K! will host exhibitions, workshops, and talks, bringing socially engaged photography—a tradition well established in Northern Europe and the UK—to Italy. Through hands-on reflection, they translate the political discourse around images into tangible experiences.
K! will be an open space for the city and its residents. It will host artist residencies focused on co-creating with the local community. Throughout the year, a curated library of photobooks and publications on collaborative photography practices will be accessible by appointment.
The inaugural exhibition is La Cornuda de Tlacotalpan by Emilio Nasser. Based on a local legend from Tlacotalpan in Veracruz, Mexico, the project engages with the community’s imagination. According to some fishermen, La Cornuda lives in the Papaloapan River—a creature that appears and disappears, frightens people, and uses her horns to carry them away, making them vanish from the Earth. Nasser playfully reimagined this myth with local residents, who drew and wrote their own versions of the story, creating alternative endings.
In the project, La Cornuda leaves the river and enters the city of Tlacotalpan, walking invisibly among its inhabitants. Nasser created a mask from mud and river debris, which community members wore as a tool to reenact the legend and foster interaction between people.
In collaboration with Fondazione Alfaparf, Kublaiklan also launched L’ora di Fotografia (The Hour of Photography), a project that supports artistic production and promotes visual literacy among younger generations. Five photographers—Hicham Benohoud, Ilaria Turba, Emilio Nasser, Karla Hiraldo Voleau, and Matteo de Mayda—will engage with secondary school students through workshops, interviews, and talks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about the Kublaiklan Collective Advancing Collaborative Photography designed to sound like questions from real photographers at all levels
Getting Started The Basics
Q What exactly is the Kublaiklan Collective
A Its a community and movement focused on moving beyond solo photography We emphasize collaborationworking with other photographers models stylists and creatives to create work that is greater than the sum of its parts
Q I mostly shoot alone Why should I try collaborative photography
A Collaboration pushes you out of your creative comfort zone You get exposed to new techniques ideas and perspectives you might never have considered on your own leading to more unique and powerful images
Q Is this just for professional photographers
A Not at all Its for anyone passionate about photography from hobbyists to seasoned pros The core idea is about the mindset of sharing and creating together regardless of skill level
Q How do I find people to collaborate with
A Start within the Collectives online forums or local meetups You can also use social media with tags like KublaiklanCollab or simply reach out to local artists whose work you admire We often organize collab matchmaking events
Benefits Philosophy
Q Whats the biggest benefit of working this way
A Synergy You combine skills gear and vision A photographer great with lighting can team up with someone amazing at composition while a stylist adds narrative The final image reflects a shared creative force
Q Doesnt collaboration lead to creative disagreements
A It can but thats part of the process We view creative tension as a tool not a problem The key is clear communication upfront about goals roles and a willingness to experiment and compromise for the sake of the project
Q How does this help my individual style
A Ironically working with others often helps you define your own style more clearly You see what resonates with you what you naturally contribute and what you want to explore further in your personal work
Practical Execution Common Problems
Q How do you split costs and handle logistics for a shoot
A We encourage open discussion