As part of the 11th edition of Image Festival 2023, twelve German photographers reflect on the theme ‘Roots’ in relation to social and political change in cities.
The Goethe-Institut Jordanien together with the German Embassy to Jordan, are delighted to present an exhibition by 12 photographers from OSTKREUZ, a photographer-led agency in Germany, at the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts throughout the month of May, as part of the 11th edition of the Image Festival Amman under the theme ‘Roots’.
The exhibition marks the celebration of the 70th anniversary of German-Jordanian diplomatic relations. Throughout these years, Germany and Jordan have had a long-standing history of friendship, based on mutual respect and cooperation. Cultural exchange and collaboration are a main pillar of bilateral relations, which the Goethe-Institut Jordanien has been spearheading since its establishment in 1961. Through the development of hundreds of cross-country projects within the past 70 years, the Goethe-Institute Jordan along with its Jordanian and German partners has been promoting intercultural dialogue and understanding.
Reflecting on 70 years of diplomatic relations draws comparisons in the changes Germany and Jordan have undergone in their modern histories. The visiting exhibition from OSTKREUZ highlights the past 35 years of political and cultural change in Berlin. It presents a grand body of photographic work by 12 established photographers from OSTKREUZ, documenting Germany before and after the fall of communism. The exhibition is a curated selection from the agency’s comprehensive image archive of significant, photographic contemporary documents of a third of a century, ranging from the 1980s to the present day. Similar to the roots of a tree, the OSTKREUZ photographers do not remain on the surface of their subjects in their photographic approaches but penetrate towards the interior of the events.
The exhibiting photographers are Siyblle Bergemann, Harald Hauswald, Ute Mahler, Mahler Werner, Annette Hauschild, Joerg Brueggmann, Jordis Antonia Schloesser, Thomas Meyer, Frank Schinski, Sebastian Wells, Heinrich Voelkel, Linn Schroeder, and Sibylle Fendt.
The exhibition will be hosted at the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts – Building 1, on the third floor throughout the month of May, with the official opening taking place on the 10th of May, at 6 PM followed by a reception of the German Embassy.