Imagine Another Perspective
Alfred Ehrhardt Stiftung
Berlin, Germany
13 July – 8 September 2024
Featuring works by:
Mandy Barker
Caleb Charland
Maija Tammi
How does humanity’s conception of time shift when confronted with illness or death? What are the deeper implications surrounding the plastic materials we handle every day? Are there energies in nature imperceptible by the human eye? Alfred Ehrhardt Stiftung presents an exhibition that tackles these questions and more in the group show Imagine Another Perspective.
The works of the three international artists included in the presentation aim to illuminate areas of the natural world around us that are often unnoticed: the unseen, the overlooked, and the surprising, which are however central to our survival. The exhibition is an attempt to train our vision and perception, in hopes of gaining a different perspective on our environment. By experimenting with a variety of tools and optical techniques, the artists also explore the process of photography itself.
American artist Caleb Charland (*1980) combines a scientific curiosity with a constructive approach to the making of his pictures. In his series “Back To Light,” the artist expands upon the classic school science project, the potato battery. By inserting a galvanized nail into one side of a potato and a copper wire into the other side, a small electrical current is generated. Charland finds the simplicity of this electrical phenomenon endlessly fascinating. His work speaks to the curiosity we all have for how the world works, as well as the global concern for the future of Earth’s energy sources. By employing long exposures and experimentation with light-sensitive papers, Charland surprises us by illuminating forces invisible to the human eye and yet existing all around us, and draws our attention to the parallel experiences of plant life happening every day.
The photographs of British artist Mandy Barker (*1964) initially resemble fantastic creatures and galaxies. Only upon closer inspection is it revealed that the images are, in fact, made up of marine plastic waste from around the globe, collected by Barker herself, sometimes inviting others to contribute their finds as well. Collaborating for over a decade with scientists and explorers, Mandy Barker has gained global recognition for raising awareness about plastic pollution in the world’s oceans, highlighting its harmful effects on marine life, climate change, and ultimately ourselves. She believes that photography has the power to encourage people to act, to move them emotionally, or at the very least make them take notice. Photographs have the power to stimulate debate and ultimately evoke change.
Images both © Mandy Barker – from L – R: “30.41 N 157.51 E,” From the series, ‘Shoal’ 2010 and “Turtles,” From the series “SOUP” 2011. Click on Thumbnail to see full image.
Finnish artist Maija Tammi (*1985) explores the life of Hydra vulgaris, a small freshwater polyp that does not age at all in her series “Immortal’s Birthday.” Her photographs explore the human place in the continuum of existence and ageing, examining practical and metaphysical questions raised by Hydra all the way from the 1700s until today. Her work surrounding the Hydra combines Greek mythology and spirituality with technology and scientific research.
All images © Maija Tammi from Left – Right: “Bathing Brains,” 2023.
Image: © Maija Tammi, Party Animal from the series Immortal’s Birthday.
The exhibition aims to provide audiences with unexpected new understandings of foundational ideas and is made possible with additional support from the Finnland-Institut and East Wing/Doha. The exhibition runs until 8 September 2024. See more on the Alfred Ehrhardt Stiftung website.
