Starting in 2016, the masterclass was designed as a long-term project aiming to enable young photographers from the region to work on important topics and series. The project turned out to be a holistic growth experience for the twelve participating photographers an enriching experience for the mentoring photographers. The participants of this regional project represent eight different Southeast Asian countries: Indonesia, Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Through workshops during the Obscura Festival and intensive exchange between the participating and the mentoring photographers, twelve photo series on youth and future in Southeast Asia were planned and realized.
© CCTang Obscura
Through workshops during the Obscura Festival and intensive exchange between the participating and the mentoring photographers, twelve photo series on youth and future in Southeast Asia were planned and realized.

The topics of the series range from online dating and relationships over mental health and illness to identity, creativity and the question of belonging. Each of the series uses a unique approach to the topics and give an insight into different aspects of being young as well as their own personal engagement with the topic.
In 2018 the group exhibition was shown in Singapore, Bandung, Jakarta, Manila and Kuala Lumpur within various supporting programs such as workshops, panels and lectures.
On 7 March 2019, the exhibition will be opened in Frankfurt am Main at basis e.V. All twelve photographers, the two mentors, Jörg Brüggemann and Tobias Kruse of Ostkreuz - Agentur der Fotografen, as well as the director of the Obscura Festival of Photography, Vignes Balasingam, will be present. The opening of the exhibition is the kick-off for a networking trip organized by the Goethe-Institut, which will also take the 12 Southeast Asian photographers to Berlin.
From May 31 to June 9, 2019, the photo exhibition will be on display in the Ostkreuzschule, Berlin
Ilham Gallery Images | © Vignes-Balasingam
©Vignes-Balasingam |
Ilham Gallery Images | ©Vignes-Balasingam |
In 2018 the group exhibition was shown in Singapore, Bandung, Jakarta, Manila and Kuala Lumpur within various supporting programs such as workshops, panels and lectures.
On 7 March 2019, the exhibition will be opened in Frankfurt am Main at basis e.V. All twelve photographers, the two mentors, Jörg Brüggemann and Tobias Kruse of Ostkreuz - Agentur der Fotografen, as well as the director of the Obscura Festival of Photography, Vignes Balasingam, will be present. The opening of the exhibition is the kick-off for a networking trip organized by the Goethe-Institut, which will also take the 12 Southeast Asian photographers to Berlin.
From May 31 to June 9, 2019, the photo exhibition will be on display in the Ostkreuzschule, Berlin



The photo book was published by Calin Kruse, dienacht Publishing in Leipzig. Meanwhile, several artists have won international awards for their work, e.g. in Singapore, Turkey and Germany. Above all, the press and media have highlighted the social issues shown and dealt with in the exhibition, such as: the Edition.CNN
WWHBY Fotobuch©Goethe Institut
WWHBY Fotobuch©Goethe Institut
WWHBY Fotobuch©Goethe Institut
WWHBY Fotobuch©Goethe Institut
WWHBY Fotobuch©Goethe Institut
WWHBY Fotobuch©Goethe Institut





