Foam Magazine has released its 67th issue, tackling one of photography's most profound questions: what makes an image truly timeless? The forward-thinking publication, now over two decades old, has become both a launching pad for emerging artists and a comprehensive archive documenting the evolution of photographic art.
"If you look at the entire archive of Foam Magazine, you see photography history passing through the pages," explains Katy Hundertmark, the magazine's curator and managing editor. This latest issue delves deeper into understanding what allows certain photographs to transcend their original context and continue resonating across generations.
The concept of timeless imagery presents unique challenges in today's fast-paced visual culture, making this issue particularly significant. Hundertmark notes that the editorial team began by examining "the nitty gritty of the ways that societies choose to remember and forget information." Their research revealed a crucial insight: "Photographs don't endure because of what they capture per se, but because of where and through whom they are allowed to live."
This perspective highlights how canonical photographic memory has been shaped not only by the original image-makers but also by editors, curators, colonizers, and gatekeepers who repeatedly reprint and redistribute certain works. As Hundertmark points out, this creates "the deeper paradox: what we often call timeless is shaped by historical forces that are solidly entangled within a wider net of hierarchical structures."
The issue showcases powerful examples of potentially timeless imagery through carefully selected photographs. Tyler Mitchell's "A Glint of Possibility" features a man dangling from a tire swing, positioned just close enough to water to see his reflection while risking a fall into the murky depths below. This image serves as a timeless commentary on both the importance and inherent risks of self-reflection.
Palestinian documentarian Sakir Khader contributes a striking photograph showing a man napping on an abandoned sofa, with a desolate landscape stretching to the horizon in the background. This powerful image captures what a brief respite from violence looks like in Palestine, offering viewers a moment of quiet humanity amid ongoing conflict.
In a significant strategic shift, Foam Magazine has introduced a hybrid publishing model starting with this issue. The redesigned annual print edition will now be complemented by enhanced online content delivered through a revamped digital platform. This approach aims to make photography more accessible and relevant for the magazine's dedicated readership while ensuring the publication's future sustainability.
"As always, we invite you to look at the world gently, but not any less lucidly," Hundertmark states, encapsulating the magazine's philosophy. This gentle yet clear-eyed approach extends to the diverse roster of photographers featured in issue 67, including Sara Cwynar and the late Ernest Cole, both of whom had their first museum solo exhibitions at Amsterdam's Foam Museum.
Looking ahead, Myriam Boulos is set to continue this trajectory with her Foam Paul Huf Award-winning exhibition scheduled for 2026. Hundertmark emphasizes the growing influence of photographers working within marginalized communities: "There is however a growing movement of image-makers – many working from within oppressed or silenced communities – who are retuning the acoustics of visual memory and amplifying or retelling what has been muted."
The issue also features work by Ren Hang, Hailun Ma, and other contemporary photographers who are reshaping how we understand photographic legacy. Through these diverse voices and perspectives, Foam Magazine continues to serve as both a catalyst for important conversations about imagery and a space for contemplating photography's potential impact on future generations.
