THE SENTIMENTAL TURN

PHOTOGRAPHY CHALLENGES HISTORY

How do photographers and artists today represent historical events, defining cultural characteristics and the changes they undergo, and social relations? How is memory formulated, and how do we resist forgetting?
Over the past two decades, a type of photography has established itself that openly rejects the long-prevailing principles of documentary photography and photojournalism. The photographers counter strategies based on objectivity and objective visualization with an emotionally charged eye. The operative factor here is a professional, deliberate gaze that is also investigative and open to fascination. The artists selected by the MdF Berlin together with the European partner cities for the joint exhibition project create mise-en-scènes and exaggerations and implement theatrical effects. The object of their interest and the narratives connected to it are presented in such a way as to evoke a strong reaction on the part of the viewer – a reaction that is also based on the artists’ own involvement.