In this cooperative seminar we engaged with different photographic cultures and related “foreign archives” in a time frame stretching from colonial history to post-colonialism and with an emphasis on photographic culture(s) in ‘mega cities’ in South/East Asia (e.g. India/Delhi) on the one hand and Africa (e.g. Nigeria/Lagos) on the other hand. Along its trans-regional focus the seminar allowed a comparison which explicitly applied a South-South axis and considered for example common political histories of being former (British) colonies. Which developments have taken place in photographic practice in both contexts since the end of the 19th century? Which influence did the colonial occupation have on media usage in the respective countries? How was photography established as an artistic form of expression? Which are the specific cultural particularities in the respective countries? Which photographic archives have been produced and how is such visual heritage handled? And what are the main topics and practices which can be extracted from the photographic material?
This seminar was research-based and included one mandatory excursion of three days to the Folkwang Museum and two joined workshops with a course taught in the field of photographic studies at Essen University. During the excursion students gained insightes into private and institutional photographic collections in Germany and met leading scolars.
As outcome students conceptualized photo essays.
Cathrine Bublatzky 