Intro

Lothringer13 Halle, Munich, 11. – 15. 10. 2017

Theme: ME:WE

Partner country: USA

The exhibition ME:WE will be opened on October, 11th, 2017 in the urban art space Lothringer13 Halle and is the start of the intensive festival with discussions, lectures, screenings and workshops.

Participating Photographers:
Endia Beal (US)
Michael Danner (DE)
Tim Davis (US)
Thomas Dworzak (DE)
Annie Flanagan (US)
Gregory Halpern (US)
Paul Kranzler (AT)
Kristin Loschert (DE)
Mike Mandel and Chantal Zakari (US)
Harris Mizrahi (US)
Stefanie Moshammer (AT)
Andrea Ellen Reed (US)
Richard Renaldi (US)
Ruddy Roye (US)
Lisa Riordan Seville and Zara Katz (US)
Sofia Valiente (US)
Christina Werner (AT)

With the topic ME:WE Fotodoks 2017 illuminates, in dialogue with the partner country USA, the relationship between the individual and the collective. Documentary photographic positions show how social communities are shaped by external influences, such as politics or conflicts, and create the potential for a hopeful connection. The view is directed at what connects or separates people, opposition, diversity and solidarity, and the search for motifs that define attributions and identities in a complex time. Virtual participation is observed critically and influences of nationalism on society and the media are shown. In the same way, the personal behavior of photographers is discussed and the role they can play in social coexistence. The projects of the selected photographers tell of the search for security and love, describe exceptional situations, analyze political commitment and positions, observe boundaries and transgressions, and last but not least, they use the medium of photography as an escape ahead – ME:WE describes a movement, a dynamic process.

Fotodoks is an international and ambitious festival that reflects and discusses contemporary documentary photography in a lively and personal atmosphere. Focusing on a different theme and partner region for each edition, Fotodoks perceives itself as an independent forum, which takes place in Munich every second year and has established itself since 2008 as the largest festival for documentary photography in the German-speaking world. In 2017, Fotodoks presents itself in a space for contemporary art: in the Lothringer13 Halle & Rroom, the group exhibition, the events of the supporting program and a café with photo books are gathered together to create a place for dialog.

ABOUT US
For the first time at Fotodoks, a pool of 150 discussed projects – among thus the 19 photographers selected by the jury – drew up from the proposals of renowned nominators, who we are grateful for their cooperation.

With Michaela Obermair from Vienna, Sabine Schwarzenböck from Munich and Lene Harbo Pedersen from Copenhagen, the Fotodoks Headquarter 2017 has been expanded and becomes even more international.