At the New York Public Library, with its vast archive, Tamara Janes engaged in the ongoing process of borrowing, scanning, and collecting images. To address questions of copyright and authorship, she later spent several years developing multiple projects from this growing body of scans.
The series explores the moment of transfer, when an image ceases to belong to its original state and becomes “her own.” The project involves digitally altering the scanned images and, in collaboration with a lawyer specializing in copyright, attaching written legal assessments to each step of modification, outlining why and how ownership could be considered to shift.
The wide scope for interpretation of copyright in photography and art means that these questions are never far removed from issues of what counts as “original,” “derivative,” or “new expression.” This work stands as a labor of dedication, born from a sincere and uncompromising confrontation with this issue.
At the New York Public Library, with its vast archive, Tamara Janes engaged in the ongoing process of borrowing, scanning, and collecting images. To address questions of copyright and authorship, she later spent several years developing multiple projects from this growing body of scans.
The series explores the moment of transfer, when an image ceases to belong to its original state and becomes “her own.” The project involves digitally altering the scanned images and, in collaboration with a lawyer specializing in copyright, attaching written legal assessments to each step of modification, outlining why and how ownership could be considered to shift.
The wide scope for interpretation of copyright in photography and art means that these questions are never far removed from issues of what counts as “original,” “derivative,” or “new expression.” This work stands as a labor of dedication, born from a sincere and uncompromising confrontation with this issue.
At the New York Public Library, with its vast archive, Tamara Janes engaged in the ongoing process of borrowing, scanning, and collecting images. To address questions of copyright and authorship, she later spent several years developing multiple projects from this growing body of scans.
The series explores the moment of transfer, when an image ceases to belong to its original state and becomes “her own.” The project involves digitally altering the scanned images and, in collaboration with a lawyer specializing in copyright, attaching written legal assessments to each step of modification, outlining why and how ownership could be considered to shift.
The wide scope for interpretation of copyright in photography and art means that these questions are never far removed from issues of what counts as “original,” “derivative,” or “new expression.” This work stands as a labor of dedication, born from a sincere and uncompromising confrontation with this issue.
Tamara Janes lives and works in Bern. After studying photography at the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK) and the School of Visual Arts in New York (SVA), she completed a Master's programme at the Institute of Art Gender Nature (IAGN) at the Basel School of Art and Design. She then returned to New York on a Bern scholarship to continue her research at the Public Library. With Pro Helvetia Kunst+, she was able to continue her research based on the copyright at the Picture Collection this summer. Her work has been shown at Kunstmuseum St. Gallen, Kunsthaus Glarus, HeK Haus der elektronischen Künste Basel, Kunsthaus Pasquart, Kunsthaus Baselland, Kunsthaus Langenthal, Stadtgalerie Bern, on the occasion of Plat(t)form15 at Fotomuseum Winterthur and at the Bieler Fototage. Photo Elysée showed her first institutional solo exhibition, which brought together her work with the New York Public Library Picture Collection. Her projects have received numerous grants and awards. Among others, Tamara Janes received the Swiss Design Award 2023 in the photography category. She has been a lecturer at the F+F photography programme since 2019.
Tamara Janes lives and works in Bern. After studying photography at the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK) and the School of Visual Arts in New York (SVA), she completed a Master's programme at the Institute of Art Gender Nature (IAGN) at the Basel School of Art and Design. She then returned to New York on a Bern scholarship to continue her research at the Public Library. With Pro Helvetia Kunst+, she was able to continue her research based on the copyright at the Picture Collection this summer. Her work has been shown at Kunstmuseum St. Gallen, Kunsthaus Glarus, HeK Haus der elektronischen Künste Basel, Kunsthaus Pasquart, Kunsthaus Baselland, Kunsthaus Langenthal, Stadtgalerie Bern, on the occasion of Plat(t)form15 at Fotomuseum Winterthur and at the Bieler Fototage. Photo Elysée showed her first institutional solo exhibition, which brought together her work with the New York Public Library Picture Collection. Her projects have received numerous grants and awards. Among others, Tamara Janes received the Swiss Design Award 2023 in the photography category. She has been a lecturer at the F+F photography programme since 2019.
Tamara Janes lives and works in Bern. After studying photography at the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK) and the School of Visual Arts in New York (SVA), she completed a Master's programme at the Institute of Art Gender Nature (IAGN) at the Basel School of Art and Design. She then returned to New York on a Bern scholarship to continue her research at the Public Library. With Pro Helvetia Kunst+, she was able to continue her research based on the copyright at the Picture Collection this summer. Her work has been shown at Kunstmuseum St. Gallen, Kunsthaus Glarus, HeK Haus der elektronischen Künste Basel, Kunsthaus Pasquart, Kunsthaus Baselland, Kunsthaus Langenthal, Stadtgalerie Bern, on the occasion of Plat(t)form15 at Fotomuseum Winterthur and at the Bieler Fototage. Photo Elysée showed her first institutional solo exhibition, which brought together her work with the New York Public Library Picture Collection. Her projects have received numerous grants and awards. Among others, Tamara Janes received the Swiss Design Award 2023 in the photography category. She has been a lecturer at the F+F photography programme since 2019.
See You at SEEEU!
Organizer:
Supported by:
European Union
seeeu@koi.lt
Europe Photo Month Tokyo
Oct 23 - Nov 23 2025
See You at SEEEU!
Organizer:
Supported by:
European Union
See You at SEEEU!
Organizer:
Supported by:
European Union