Eye-lights - create meaning
"untitled", 2009 / Photo: Anne-Lena Michel
The city of Essen hasn't always been pretty - and it isn't always today either. But Essen has always been photogenic. Essen has earned a reputation as one of Europe's big cities of photography thanks to famous photographers like Albert Renger-Patzsch and Otto Steinert as well as renowned collections and exhibitions.
It's only natural that photography students at the Folkwang Institute are now taking a closer look at the photographic exploration of Essen. The city is not just a subject of photography but also an experimental ground for photography.
Pictures commonly enter the public realm nowadays, be it in the form of posters, advertisements or graffiti. Politicians try to convince voters and ads lure consumers. At the same time, billboards serve as a barrier against wind, noise and unsightly areas.
As part of the European Capital of Culture RUHR.2010 this established connection between posters and purpose will be broken. Instead, the work of modern young artists will be displayed on large billboards across the city. The selection of motives will be closely related to each display's surroundings.
The goal is to create a dialogue and make young photography more accessible. The billboards will transform urban spaces into “wall-less museums” - visible and accessible to everyone, free of charge.
Autumn 2010
Exclusive sponsor for photography: Savings Banks Finance Group