Merry Christmas

by Magnum Photographers Who is Santa Claus? In Italy "La Befana" is a good witch who dresses all in black. In the U.S. the Coca Cola Company invented the Santa in red and white robes. The Dutch "Sintirklass" arrives by boat on December 6th. In China, "Dun Che Lao Ren," or Christmas Old Man, brings gifts to children. In Germany the "Christkind" or Christ Child brings presents while families are in church. In Sweden Santa is a gnome called "Juletomten". In Switzerland the "Christkindl" brings the gifts. In England Father Christmas is a stern version of Santa Claus.

Empty Orchestra

by Chien-Chi Chang One night and one roll of film. Chien-Chi Chang's photographs of "a night in a karaoke bar" explore a different scene from that which we are used to in western-world karaoke establishments.

He evocatively captures the other side of karaoke culture in which divorced or married Vietnamese women entertain Taiwanese men, portraying what some suggest is a new "concubine phenomenon" emerging from Karaoke culture in certain parts of Asia.