IMAGINE REALITY RAY 2015 Fotografieprojekte Frankfurt/RheinMain

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1 Press Release 19 June 2015 This summer the Rhine/Main region celebrates the medium of photography in a unique collaboration: from June to September 2015 the second edition of will once again present outstanding examples of contemporary photography at 12 different locations in Frankfurt and the Rhine/Main region. In a central exhibition and nine partner projects, 12 institutions as well as 35 artists from 15 countries will explore images of subjective and staged realities. For decades, numerous collections and institutions in Frankfurt and the surrounding regions have placed a special focus on the medium of photography. This extraordinary concentration set the stage for the RAY Fotografieprojekte Frankfurt/RheinMain that took place for the first time in 2012 and will be continued as a Triennial this summer. Dr. Helmut Müller, CEO of Kulturfonds Frankfurt RheinMain is pleased with the renewed collaboration of the local institutions and collections: The RAY Fotografieprojekte Frankfurt/RheinMain was created at the initiative of the Kulturfonds Frankfurt RheinMain. The very first edition in 2012 was a widely recognized national and international success. With new partners and a stronger interconnectivity between the collaborating institutions, 2015 will once again show how large the local potential in the area of contemporary photography and video art really is. Moreover, this time the RAY team has succeeded in expanding the common theme,, to the surrounding regions. So now, not only the central exhibition, but also the partner projects will all follow a common topic. The Triennial RAY is a perfect example of the goal of the Kulturfonds Frankfurt RheinMain to combine and strengthen the cultural activities of the region. It is clear that with the program in 2015, a great step in the continued success story of RAY has been achieved. The six member curatorial team has chosen 28 artists, whose works can be seen in the exhibition, presented collectively at the Fotografie Forum Frankfurt, at the Museum Angewandte Kunst and at MMK 1 of the MMK Museum für Moderne Kunst Frankfurt am Main from 20 June to 20 September. The exhibition is not only an inventory of the international photography scene, but also shows how contemporary artists take fragments of reality as their source to create imaginary and visionary worlds. They free themselves from the demands of authenticity and deliberately counter the flood of private and public images. Real and virtual space, documentation and staging are mixed together in their works. The desire to be free of an accurate reproduction of the world leads to an expansion of reality. Opening Press Conference RAY Fotografieprojekte Frankfurt/RheinMain! page 1 of 8

2 RAY 2015 not only combines the competence regarding the photographic medium, but also strengthens this sustainably through the support of 12 new artists productions. These will be on view in the exhibition as well as in six further partner projects in Frankfurt and the region. Among the total of nine partners showing photography projects are, for example, the Frankfurter Kunstverein, the Kunst- und Kulturstiftung Opelvillen Rüsselsheim and the Darmstädter Tage der Fotografie. The Frankfurter Kunstverein will present the first comprehensive exhibition of the US-American artist Trevor Paglen (*1974) in Germany, which will be complemented with new productions. For RAY 2015, the artist, Jörn Vanhöfen (*1961) conceived a new production within the framework of an exhibit in the Kunst- und Kulturstiftung Opelvillen Rüsselsheim that focuses on the social-ecological transitions of the Rhine/Main region in the industrial area of Rüsselsheim and is also presented in the public space. For the Darmstädter Tage der Fotografie, the French artist, Georges Rousse (*1947) developed two new photographs that were taken in the Hessisches Landesmuseum Darmstadt as well as in an abandoned nuclear bunker, whose location is kept under the strictest secrecy. To our deep regret, Sascha Weidner ( ), who had planned a new production for RAY 2015 in collaboration with the Marta Hoepffner- Gesellschaft für Fotografie e.v. and the Stadtmuseum Hofheim am Taunus, died unexpectedly in April of this year. An exhibition of his selected photographs will be presented in Stadtmuseum Hofheim am Taunus in the memory of the work of this young and already extraordinarily distinguished artist. In this edition, the RAY Fotografieprojekte Frankfurt/RheinMain will be complemented by two new partner projects in Wiesbaden for the first time. The photographer, Nicole Ahland (*1970) has created a new multi-part room series for the Museum Wiesbaden. Meanwhile, the artist, Ming Wong (*1971) who lives in Berlin and Singapore has completed a new installment of his video piece, Me in Me (2013) at the NKV Nassauische Kunstverein Wiesbaden. The opening of both exhibitions on Thursday, 18th of June was the kickoff for this year s Triennial of Photography. Further new productions by renowned international artists such as Barbara Breitenfellner (*1969), David Claerbout (*1969), Kathrin Sonntag (*1981), Jan Tichy (*1974) and the artist duo, Gusmão & Paiva (*1979 / *1977) will be presented in the exhibition at the Fotografie Forum Frankfurt, at the Museum Angewandte Kunst as well as at the MMK Museum for Moderne Kunst Frankfurt am Main. Prof. Dr. Felix Semmelroth, Head of Cultural Affairs for the City of Frankfurt, states: After the successful premiere in 2012, it is great that RAY once again proves that Frankfurt is a recognized center for photography. The support of the Opening Press Conference RAY Fotografieprojekte Frankfurt/RheinMain! page 2 of 8

3 Kulturfonds Frankfurt RheinMain enables the internationally unique focus of photography to radiate into the region and beyond in the rhythm of a Triennial. For the exhibition, six curators from six institutions in Frankfurt and the region have worked together. Moreover, the RAY team has succeeded to develop this collaboration with other cities, such as Darmstadt, Hofheim, Rüsselsheim and Wiesbaden in context of the partnering projects shows: there is more RAY than ever before! RAY 2015 is working in cooperation with the three most significant corporate collections in the region: the DZ BANK Kunstsammlung is represented by the exhibition, Imagine Landscape in their ART FOYER. The MMK 3 of the MMK Museum für Moderne Kunst will present the finalists of this year s Deutsche Börse Photography Prize. The Deutsche Börse Photography Prize is an annual award established in 1997 by The Photographers' Gallery in London. The Art Collection Deutsche Börse is also supporting RAY with loans for the exhibition. The Deutsche Bank AG is supporting the new production of the Portuguese artist duo, Gusmão & Paiva that can be seen at the MMK 1 of the MMK Museum für Moderne Kunst. RAY 2015 is also collaborating with students from the h_da Hochschule Darmstadt, the HfG Hochschule für Gestaltung Offenbach, the Hochschule Rhein-Main and the Staatliche Akademie der Bildenden Künste Städelschule. The students will show their work within the framework of RAY 2015 in the exhibition, Let Me See You See Me (17 28 June) at ATELIERFRANKFURT. On Wednesday, 24 June, Martin Liebscher invites everyone to a Symposium at the HfG Offenbach, where the students will focus on the topic of Disappearing Reality. Education and Accompanying Program The Photography Triennial RAY 2015 will be accompanied by an extensive educational program with guided tours, workshops and lectures. The mayor of Frankfurt, Peter Feldmann and the city of Frankfurt are supporting an educational project in selected youth organizations in cooperation with the Crespo Foundation. Mayor Peter Feldmann will also take over the patronage of this project. This year, the Fotografie Forum Frankfurt will again offer their Akademie program. Artists from the exhibition will participate in the extensive program with lectures and workshops. In addition, partner institutions will offer talks with artists and podium discussions. Within the Ray 2015 framework, the MMK organized a discussion between Simon Starling and Katrina Brown that took place last Friday, 12 June in their series of events, MMK TALKS The Artists. The Frankfurter Kunstverein is presenting the panel discussion The Art of Surveillance with the artist, Trevor Paglen in cooperation with the Excellence cluster, Normative Orders at the Goethe University Frankfurt on Saturday, 20 June starting at 8 pm Furthermore, the artist Opening Press Conference RAY Fotografieprojekte Frankfurt/RheinMain! page 3 of 8

4 will receive this year s cultural prize of the German Association of Photography (DGPh) that will be awarded on Sunday, 21 June at the Frankfurter Kunstverein. Exhibition Catalogue A comprehensive catalogue, illustrated with a wealth of images will be published for the Triennial RAY 2015 presenting the artists of the exhibition, IMAGINE REALITY along with the new productions of the partner projects. The curators of the exhibition offer a discursive parcours through the exhibition with six image sections. A text commissioned by RAY 2015 from the author Clemens Meyer, who has been honored with numerous awards, offers a new literary perspective on the theme of this year s Triennial. The catalogue is published by Kehrer Verlag and is available in the participating museums at the special price of 25 (231 pages, approx. 200 images, German/English). Artists Nicole Ahland (*1970 DE), Sonja Braas (*1968 DE/US), Barbara Breitenfellner (*1969 AT), Sophie Calle (*1953 FR), David Claerbout (*1969 BE), Jonas Dahlberg (*1970 SE), Cristina de Middel (*1975 ES), Klaus Elle (*1954 DE), Jan Paul Evers (*1982 DE), Lucas Foglia (*1983 US), Joan Fontcuberta (*1954 ES), João Maria Gusmão & Pedro Paiva (*1979/*1977 PT), Beate Gütschow (*1970 DE), Barbara Kasten (*1936 US), Annette Kelm (*1975 DE), Cinthia Marcelle (*1974 BR), Maix Mayer (*1960 DE), Abelardo Morell (*1948 CU/US), Sanaz Mazinani (*1978 IR/CA/US), Yamini Nayar (*1975 US), Hans Op de Beeck (*1969 BE), Trevor Paglen (*1974 US), Miguel Rio Branco (*1946 BR), Georges Rousse (*1947 FR), Viviane Sassen (*1972 NL), Kathrin Sonntag (*1981 DE), Simon Starling (*1967 GB), Anoek Steketee (*1974 NL), John Stezaker (*1949 GB), Jan Tichy (*1974 CZ/US), Jörn Vanhöfen (*1961 DE), Sascha Weidner ( DE), Ming Wong (*1971 SG), Wolfgang Zurborn (*1956 DE). New productions Exhibition Barbara Breitenfellner (*1969 AT), David Claerbout (*1969 BE), João Maria Gusmão & Pedro Paiva (*1979/*1977 PT), Beate Gütschow (*1970 DE), Kathrin Sonntag (*1981 DE), Jan Tichy (*1974 CZ/US). RAY 2015 Partner projects Nicole Ahland (*1970 DE), Trevor Paglen (*1974 US), Georges Rousse (*1947 FR), Jörn Vanhöfen (*1961 DE), Sascha Weidner ( DE), Ming Wong (*1971 SG). Opening Press Conference RAY Fotografieprojekte Frankfurt/RheinMain! page 4 of 8

5 Curators Exhibition Anne-Marie Beckmann (Art Collection Deutsche Börse), Peter Gorschlüter (MMK Museum für Moderne Kunst), Jule Hillgärtner (Kunstverein Braunschweig), Alexandra Lechner (Darmstädter Tage der Fotografie), Celina Lunsford (Fotografie Forum Frankfurt) and Matthias Wagner K (Museum Angewandte Kunst). RAY 2015 Partner Projects Eva Eicker (Deutsche Börse Photography Prize), Ralf Dingeldein and Herbert Fischer (Marta Hoepffner-Gesellschaft für Fotografie e.v.), Peter Forster (Museum Wiesbaden), Elke Gruhn (NKV Nassauischer Kunstverein Wiesbaden), Beate Kemfert (Kunst- und Kulturstiftung Opelvillen Rüsselsheim), Christina Leber (DZ BANK Kunstsammlung), Franziska Nori (Frankfurter Kunstverein) and Gregor Schuster (Darmstädter Tage der Fotografie). Opening Press Conference RAY Fotografieprojekte Frankfurt/RheinMain! page 5 of 8

6 Please download the entire press kit of the RAY opening press conference at Press Release 2 RAY 2015 exhibition 7 Introduction to the theme 7 Artists 9 Exhibition venues: 10 Fotografie Forum Frankfurt Museum Angewandte Kunst MMK Museum für Moderne Kunst Frankfurt am Main 12 RAY 2015 Partner Projects ART FOYER DZ BANK Kunstsammlung 13 Darmstädter Tage der Fotografie (new production) 14 Deutsche Börse Photography Prize 2015 at MMK 3 of 15 MMK Museum für Moderne Kunst Frankfurt am Main Frankfurter Kunstverein (new production) 16 Hochschulprojekte at ATELIERFRANKFURT 17 Kunst- und Kulturstiftung Opelvillen Rüsselsheim 18 (new production) Marta Hoepffner-Gesellschaft für Fotografie e.v. 19 at Stadtmuseum Hofheim (new production) Museum Wiesbaden (new production) 20 NKV Nassauischer Kunstverein Wiesbaden 21 (new production) RAY 2015 Events Initiator, support and media partners Kulturfonds Frankfurt RheinMain 26 Team/Imprint 27 Information for journalists/service 28 Opening Press Conference RAY Fotografieprojekte Frankfurt/RheinMain! page 6 of 8

7 Information for journalists/service Exhibition 20 June 20 September 2015 Catalogue The Triennial RAY 2015 is accompanied by an extensive catalogue published with Kehrer Verlag. Available at all participating museums for the special price of 25. Admission RAY 2015 exhibition in the Fotografie Forum Frankfurt, Museum Angewandte Kunst and MMK Museum für Moderne Kunst Regular 12, reduced 6 The museums rules and regulations for free entry apply. Admission is free for the members of the Fotografie Forum Frankfurt e.v., Friends of the Museum Angewandte Kunst and Friends of the MMK Museum für Moderne Kunst Frankfurt am Main. Guided tours through the exhibition Wednesdays, 6 pm, at Fotografie Forum Frankfurt Saturdays, 2.30 pm, at MMK Museum für Moderne Kunst Sundays, 3 pm, at Museum Angewandte Kunst Opening Press Conference RAY Fotografieprojekte Frankfurt/RheinMain! page 7 of 8

8 Information for journalists/service Interviews We are at your service for arranging interviews with curators and artists of RAY 2015 as well as other inquiries. Please send an with your inquiry to or contact us by telephone at +49 (0) Image Archive You will find photo material of selected artists as a complimentary download. Please note that that this material may only be used in the context of press coverage referring to RAY 2015 and under compliance to the copyright listed. Press Mailing List In order to receive press information in the future, please send an with your contact information to the following address: presse@ray2015.de Press Contact: Markus Müller Head of Communication T +49 (0) M +49 (0) presse@ray2015.de Annie Buenker Press Officer T +49 (0) M +49 (0) presse@ray2015.de On behalf of RAY Fotografieprojekte Frankfurt/RheinMain Braubachstraße Frankfurt info@ray2015.de Opening Press Conference RAY Fotografieprojekte Frankfurt/RheinMain! page 8 of 8