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Say hello to Thousandfold, the new library that just opened in Metro Manila, in the non-BGC part of Taguig to be a little more specific.
Unlike any ordinary library, Thousandfold specializes in photobooks. If you’re thinking something along the lines of a photo album, you’re wrong.
Think of it this way: it’s a photographer’s collection of his photographs, something like Jake Verzosa’s ‘The Last Tattooed Women of the Kalinga’.
You’ll find a lot of those in Thousandfold, whose founder is none other than photographer/artist/musician Wawi Navarroza.
Pro tip: the library actually operates inside her studio. So any of you fan boys and fan girls curious as to how Wawi works, Thousandfold is so worth checking out. You might even want to be a member (starts at PHP1,500/quarterly).
Because the perks come aplenty: apart from free entrance (non-members need to cough out PHP200 to get in), Thousandfold also has monthly activities, like workshops, film screenings, photographer’s salons, and portfolio reviews. It certainly looks poised to open our minds and eyes and to bring our aesthetics to another level.
Unfortunately, because photobooks are a sensitive little thing — almost like a piece of art — Thousandfold isn’t lending them out. You need to sit at the studio, peruse the books, and bask in its creative and aesthetic glory. It shouldn’t feel like punishment. The space is airy, bright, and beautiful and you’ll be surrounded by creative and artistic types.
“If you notice, we operate kind of late (12pm-8pm, Thurs-Sun). That’s because we cater to students and office workers who want to learn more and see more,” says Wawi.
If you’d like to bring home books, you can purchase them from its small batch bookstore. And if you are a certain kind of member, (Fellow: PHP3,000/quarterly) you’ll have discounts on the international and independent photobooks, monographs, art books and photozines that are available there.
For good measure, Thousandfold also has a small press arm, the Thousandfold Small Press. They invite and work with a Filipino photographer and on a quarterly basis, publish a photobook, or an artist book, or a photozine. For its debut offering, Czar Kristoff is it.
It’s the first of its kind in Metro Manila, and you know what? It truly is something else. You should check it out, on any Thursday or Friday this month, if we may suggest. Because the door charge of PHP200 is waived on all Thursdays and Fridays of September. After which, we feel you should totally sign up for membership.
Thousandfold, Warehouse 509, VFP Building 2, Veterans Road, Veterans Center, Taguig. Thu-Sun 12pm-8pm. +63 2 9953069
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