Overcrowded boats, crammed with men, women and children, floating on the Mediterranean. Streams of families, packed with the bare necessities, marching across the land. Emergency shelters, bursting at the seams, bare of privacy. Images we encounter via all channels, every day. They are important for recognising the full extent and tragedy of the refugee crisis. As emotional and disturbing as those kind of pictures are, they are also just as documentary. They originate from the point of view of the photographer or journalist. But every person setting off to leave their country to find a better future somewhere else has their own view of this journey. In December 2015, the Hamburger photographer Kevin McElvaneyhanded out 15 disposable cameras to refugees in Izmir, Lesbos, Athens and Idomeni. Half of those cameras returned filled with personal shots and deliver a unique document from inside the flight. They tell stories of deprivation and danger. But there are also portraits of laughing children, snapshots of families, unpretentious every day situations, attempts at normality. And at the same time snapshots from a parallel life, that often uncover their tragedy at a second glance. The ethnographical photographs are flanked by pictures from established photographers and videographers, such as Sinawi Medine. The Eritrean photographer came to Europe via the Mediterranean route himself and documented the work of the civil organisation SOS MEDITERRANEE, which has been able to save over a thousand people from the ocean with their rescue missions. All proceeds from the exhibition will go to this tireless organisation. The vernissage is taking place at 6 pm on Friday, June 10th. Go!
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#RefugeeCameras | Spreewerkstätten, Am Krögel 2, 10179 Berlin | June 11th and 12th, 12 – 6 pm | Vernissage: June 10th at 6 pm | Facebook
In recent years, hardly any artistic genre has evolved as much as photography. The boundaries between reality and illusion are as blurred as ever, icons come and go within a blink of an eye, and minor changes in history are lost in the endless stream of pictures. The intense process of artistic exploration often only starts after creating the image – in front of the computer, on a smartphone or within community consensus. But what actually defines a good picture? What distinguishes a good picture from one that is excellent? Having smartphone with an abundance of filters doesn’t necessarily make you a good photographer. Photography is a skill that requires inspiration, intuition, experience and the determination to share your point of view on the world – without being governed by the daily rhythm of blog rolls. Like every form of art, photography is about revealing a piece of yourself. Something that is so easily hidden behind foodporn, duck face and I-have-the-prefect-life selfies. That is essential the difference. Over the past years, the Ostkreuzschule has turned into talent factory spawning the best young photographers in Berlin. Ostkreuz-students are highly regarded worldwide. They have everything mentioned above. During their training, they have mastered their skills setting no limits to their artistic creation. They were able to make experiences and – above all –they were encouraged to find their own ways of expression. Starting October 10th, the graduate class will be presenting their work in a two-week exhibition at HO Berlin. Ostkreuz + HO = OHO. Oho! The vernissage will take place this Friday starting 7pm (free admission). More events such as a book launch and a panel discussion are to follow throughout the exhibition. See oho-oks.de for the full program. Go and get inspired. We need more pictures!
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OHO – Ausstellung der Ostkreuzschule für Fotografie | 10.-24.10., Mon-Fri 12-10 pm, Sat+Sun 12-9 pm, Vernissage 09.10., 7 pm | Holzmarktstraße 66, 10179 Berlin | oho-oks.de | Facebook Eventlink