Excess

EXCESS
A Group Exhibition

Following the successful exhibition “Transition” in 2022, Fotogalerie Friedrichshain and analogueNOW! are pleased to announce their second curatorial collaboration, and invite film photographers and artists working with analogue techniques to participate in their upcoming international group exhibition on the theme “Excess”.

The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom.  – William Blake.

In many instances, excess is viewed in a negative light: whether it's overstepping boundaries like exceeding the speed limit and risking fines, recklessly consuming resources like we do through deforestation and facing severe environmental consequences, or, when associated with pleasure, it often goes hand in hand with feelings of guilt and the potential of peril, or even death.

In our personal lives, excess can manifest as a means of self-harm or self-expression through both the body and the mind. It can be observed in overindulgence in food and alcohol, substance abuse, and even in mental illnesses that are characterized by an excess of emotions that society deems should be “regulated”. Within the realm of analogue photography, excess in light, movement, or exposure time is often considered a hindrance to achieving optimal results, and is regarded as a mistake.

The concept of excess is inherently relative to a norm. While some instances of excess demand our attention to prevent harm, others warrant questioning: who or what determines what is excessive and what aligns with the norm? When should it be respected, and when and how should it be scrutinized or challenged?

Excess can be perceived as a deviation or a problem, but for some, it represents a means of breaking free from societal norms, a pivotal step in one's life, or a demand for increased freedom. Is it something to be restrained, or could it be the “path to wisdom”?

Participation in the Open Call: Projects and Application

For our upcoming exhibition, we invite artists to delve into the concept of "excess" that surrounds us, whether from a social, environmental, political or intimate perspective, or even within the applied framework of analogue photographic processes.

We give the topic free for interpretation and welcome other readings of the theme. The submitted projects should be recent: either ongoing or completed in the past 5 years maximum. Long-term projects started years ago and recently completed (within the past 5 years) or still ongoing are accepted. In this sense, works that are based on archival material can be submitted. For consideration, projects must involve the use of analogue photographic processes, either entirely or in part. Camera-less photography projects are accepted.

About Fotogalerie Friedrichshain

Founded in 1985, Fotogalerie Friedrichshain is the oldest gallery dedicated to photography in East Germany, and one of the first in Berlin. Alongside exhibitions of famous German photographers, such as Helga Paris, Arno Fischer, Sybille Bergemann, Harald Hauswald, Ute Mahler, Fotogalerie Friedrichshain has shown the works of internationally acclaimed photographers Gordon Parks, Sebastiao Salgado, Tina Modotti, Cecil Beaton, and Imogen Cunningham. Around 5000-10000 people visit its exhibitions yearly. Fotogalerie Friedrichshain is a non-profit institution fostering social and educational programs.

About analogueNOW!

Founded in 2013, analogueNOW! (AN!) is a nonprofit organization for the flourishment of contemporary analogue photography.  From the curation of exhibitions to darkroom and photography workshops AN! creates learning and exhibition opportunities for artists and photographers from beginner to professional levels. AN! collaborates with a wide range of partners and partner institutions in Berlin, Germany and internationally. The main event is the analogueNOW! PhotoWeekend which takes place every second year in Berlin. Together with other European partner festivals, we build a network of analogue photography across borders.