GLOBALLY PRECARIOUS. Forced Migration, Trauma and Remembrance in Contemporary Photography

With works by  Roy Arden, John Gossage, Anselm Kiefer, Eva Leitolf, Michael Schmidt, Jeff Wall

Documenting political and social conflicts has always been one of the central tasks of photography. This newly arranged presentation of works from our collections focuses on the way that artists tackle the topics of war, displacement and forced migration. The works exhibited (by Jeff Wall, Anselm Kiefer, Michael Schmidt, Eva Leitolf, Roy Arden and John Gossage) have evolved out of the artists’ engagement with the lingering after-effects of the Second World War, or are played out at the intersections of the so-called First and Third Worlds, be it along the US-Mexican border fence or on the external borders of Europe. Their complex visual narratives are based upon concrete events and critically reflect upon their historical representations and social relevance. They contrast images conveyed through the media and official histories with different readings, informed by personal perspectives.