GUTE AUSSICHTEN

NEW GERMAN PHOTOGRAPHY 2015/2016
March 12, 2016 – April 30, 2016

’gute aussichten – new german photography’ is for the first time coming to Switzerland. 

In 2004 Josefine Raab and Stefan Becht founded this meanwhile prestigious competition for young photography. Professors from all German universities and academies submit a maximum of five graduate’s final works that are reviewed by a jury of renowned members (such as Andreas Gursky, Juergen Teller, Ulrich Seidl and others). The prize-winners are given the opportunity of presenting their works to the public in national and international exhibitions in various locations, such as the Haus der Photographie, Deichtorhallen Hamburg.

Nine artists have been selected out of 104 submissions from 36 institutions for the edition 2015/2016: Aras Gökten, Lars Hübner, Felix Hüffelmann, Kyung-Nyu Hyun, Kolja Linowitzki, Jewgeni Roppel, Gregor Schmidt, Kamil Sobolewski and Maja Wirkus.

A catalogue has been published to accompany the exhibition.

‘Quo vadis, world? – Contemplation and Utopia’

We’re all familiar with it – that version of a future world envisioned by the British writer Aldous Huxley in his 1932 novel 'Brave New World'. In it, all people live genetically modified, content and happy as 'Alpha-Plus' or 'Epsilon-Minus' animals. They live in a fixed hierarchy and a secure framework, the rules of which have to be absolutely adhered to by everyone. Surveillance is omnipresent and reaches into the most intimate spheres of each and every life. The reward for spying and imperious paternalism is unlimited consumption. Finally, the drug 'Soma' makes up for all that has vanished from this brave new world. 

Since the beginning of the 20th century, technology has been the primary impulse for industrial and societal change. The 'limits to growth', that have been the subject of vivid discussion in the 1970s have long since been surpassed. The facts and challenges that we, and future generations, have to face are: migration, climate change, globalization and a growing population on the planet, while food and goods are distributed unevenly. There is also excessive exploitation of resources, the fight over these resources and geopolitical intervention. The future 'path' is not at all linear or predictable. The big plan seems to be far away in the future and when it comes to progress, the question remains how to integrate ethics and morality and whether what is possible in this world, will really do any good or is even necessary.

The big question that is palpable in every corner of the world is: 'Where does this lead?' This question provides the undertone for all nine gute aussichten award-winning works of 2015/2016. As polyphonic as the melodies of the nine works may sound at first – when we take all of them in at the same time, a concert-like sound emerges. The individual ramifications all go back to the same basic question: What happens next? All award winners offer concrete reflections and blueprints that come back to the well-known topos 'panta rhei' ('everything flows').

Josefine Raab

The nine award-winners of gute aussichten 2015/2016 and their works are: 

Aras Gökten | Arkanum | Ostkreuzschule für Fotografie Berlin
In his series 'Arkanum', Aras Gökten depicts urban spaces that appear perfect but also uninhabitable and cold. These images, except for one, have not been designed using graphic software typically used by architects or city planners — they originate in Aras Göktens camera. 

Lars Hübner | Nothing to Declare | Kunsthochschule Berlin – Weißensee
Lars Hübner takes us on a journey to Taiwan. In 'Nothing to Declare', Lars Hübner depicts Taiwan’s blend of ancient Chinese tradition and western modernity as well as the diverse ways in which the overpowering neighbor influences the country. 

Felix Hüffelmann | The Dark Side of the Moon | Fachhochschule Bielefeld
Completely different questions are put forward by Felix Hüffelmann with 'The Dark Side of the Moon'. The work addresses surveillance, its institutionalization and abuse, which were brought to the attention of the general public by the whistleblower Edward Snowden. 

Kyung-Nyu Hyun | Food Intake | Kunsthochschule für Medien Köln
In her concept work 'Food Intake', Kyung-Nyu Hyun paints a picture that is as amusing as it is alarming. For one whole year, she documented her meals with the help of her smartphone. 

Kolja Linowitzki | Digits of Light | Universität der Künste Berlin
With 'Digits of Light', Kolja Linowitzky steps onto a completely new territory. Not only does he look for the 'new image', constantly experimenting with light and photographic material, he has also developed his own medium of production. 

Jewgeni Roppel | Magnit | Fachhochschule Bielefeld
Utopias and new life plans have always been popular. For his series 'Magnit', Jewgeni Roppel has followed the traces of such a journey and its promises. All the way to Siberia. 

Gregor Schmidt | Waiting for Qatar | HTW, Hochschule für Technik und Wirtschaft Berlin
In contrast, the Arab emirate Qatar looks straight ahead and into a bright future. For 'Waiting for Qatar', Gregor Schmidt has traveled to this country on the Persian Gulf. His photographs portray power and ambition, the Arab penchant for racing horses and everything that carries prestige, yet they also invoke guest workers and large-scale military parades. 

Kamil Sobolewski | The King of the Rats | Ostkreuzschule für Fotografie Berlin
Even though many of his motifs for 'The King of the Rats' have been taken on actual journeys, Kamil Sobolewski’s photographs are a journey inwards. The small, black and white images show a metaphorical sequence of different states of emotion and consciousness, which obviously deal with basic, existential questions. 

Maja Wirkus | Praesens II Present | Kunsthochschule Kassel
In contrast, Maya Wirkus takes us into the abstract with her work 'Praesens II Present'. Her photographic quest takes her into the space as an architectonical entity. Basically, she pursues the question of how and under which circumstances space emerges and how this can be represented photographically.

Exhibition

March 12 – April 30, 2016

Opening reception:
Saturday, March 12, 2016, 3–8 pm

3 pm
Opening reception

4 pm
Welcome address
Hot soup
Traditional buns by bakery Bisegger

6 pm
Exhibition tour with Josefine Raab
The artists will be present

Sunday, March 13, 2016, 11 am–4 pm

Long weekend:
Saturday, April 9, 2016, 11 am–9 pm
Sunday, April 10, 2016, 11 am–4 pm

Opening hours:
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 2–6 pm
Saturday 11 am–4 pm
and by appointment