ARTISSIMA | 2015

Past Fair

Podbielski Contemporary proudly presenting:
Ohad Matalon
Thomas Jorion
Andréas Lang

ARTISSIMA | 2015

4 – 6 NOVEMBER 2015

A Post – Colonial View

Today’s troubled world is still affected daily by the consequences of colonial occupation in many parts of the globe: every day photojournalism shows us tragic images of conflict torn areas such as Syria, Libya, Central African Republic, Israel and Palestine and in less recent times Rwanda, Indochina, Cambodia, Vietnam, Algeria. We all have in mind Alfredo Jaar’s installation “The Rwanda Project: 1994-1998”. Historic tragedies such as the Rwandan one have been erased from collective memory, as new conflicts arise and take over the headlines. Our gallery’s mission is to enrich the art world through the medium of photography so to reflect on such sensitive issues, on how the aftermath of the colonial era still tragically affects our world, and to increase and maintain awareness, reminding us of how the power of images plays a decisive role in our society. Photographic representation must challenge stereotypes and incentivise the viewer to question and deepen the understanding of historic and present times.

Ohad Matalon’s image Rahat from his “Across a dark Land” project is taken in the Negev, when the British ruled the area under the Palestine mandate prior to 1948, and represents a left over gate from a British police station. The gate, the wall, the frontier, the incumbent fear of the other, all constitute part of the evocative symbolism at the core of our presentation for Artissima 2015.

Thomas Jorion’s on-going project “Vestiges d’Empire” has taken him to Senegal, Morocco, China, Indochina, Cambodia and Madagascar. The driving force during early colonial times (late 19thcentury till the 50’s /60’s) was the dream for new wealth and challenging adventures. The tragic aftermath was in most cases long lasting civil and ethnic wars. Each image captured by Jorion evokes stories long forgotten, European architectural styles of the time, adapted to new environments, and remind us how fragile historical memory is.

Andréas Lang’s ongoing project “Dämmerung/Twilight”made him retrace the steps of his grandfather who travelled Central Africa, specifically Cameroon, during a most unknown and forgotten chapter of Germany’s colonial past. Metaphorically, he seeks to animate the invisible by representing traces of history and architecture seen through a romantic lens. The German Historical Museum in Berlin will stage in autumn 2016 a joint exhibition of photography, video and sound installations by Andréas Lang and Cameroonian artist Em’kal Eyongakba together with a thematic show on Colonialism.

Visit: https://www.artissima.art/