Under the title “Focus on Photography”, the MdbK will in future provide insights into the Photographic Collection at irregular intervals. It will begin with a selection of recent acquisitions, donations and permanent loans. Following the gradual establishment of photography as an equal form of expression in the visual arts from the end of the 1970s, the collection initially grew rather sporadically. In the last 20 years, however, it has been continuously expanded - not least thanks to the commitment of private and institutional sponsors.
The selected new additions were created in the last 60 years and come from eleven different photographers from three generations: Kerstin Flake (*1967), Erich-W. Hartzsch (*1952), Matthias Hoch (*1958), Jan Mammey (*1972), Klara Meinhardt (*1987), Falk Messerschmidt (*1982), Evelyn Richter (1930-2021), Ricarda Roggan (*1972), Erasmus Schröter (1956-2021), Andrzej Steinbach (*1983) and Marion Wenzel (*1958).
Almost all of the artists have a connection to the Leipzig Academy of Visual Arts (HGB).In addition to social documentary positions, there are conceptual, often media-reflective approaches.Some image sequences are narrative, others are serial.Black and white photographs alternate with color photographs, and classic exposures stand alongside prints. There are also infrared photographs, a cyanotype as well as collages and overpaintings.The collection presentation thus unites a remarkable variety of photographic means of expression and at the same time offers a fragmentary overview of the recent history of photography in Leipzig.
