Photographic and cinematic exploration of the question of "living simply":
Brexit, the NSA scandal, the refugee debate – who still understands all the connections and interests of everyone involved in a globalized world where everything seems to be interconnected, where the thousands of options can also lead to a feeling of powerlessness? What is truly important to us – for ourselves and our society – amidst all this? The search for roots, simplification, and the question of how to live is widely discussed in the media and reflected in the do-it-yourself movement, dietary questions, and yoga as a popular sport. For large parts of the world's population, however, the primary question is one of survival – a question that refugees have long since brought into our daily lives and that is changing our societal perspective. In this context, what is important to young people?
In the seminar "Living Simply," young people participating in a voluntary cultural year explored the concept of "living simply" in workshops on black and white photography, digital photography, and experimental short film. Depending on the perspective and emphasis, the seminar title offered different possibilities for the direction of their photographic or cinematic exploration: Living simply, simply LIFE?
provided inspiration for participants' own photographic or filmic exploration of the theme during the seminar Göran Gnaudschun. He spoke about his development as a photographer, from taking pictures with his first camera as a child to his residency at the renowned Villa Massimo in Rome, which began in 2016. It was fascinating for everyone to learn more about the background, including the historical context, as well as Gnaudschun's own photographic positions and developments in his various works. The Potsdam-based photographer is known, among other things, for his series "Alexanderplatz," for which he photographed street punks on Alexanderplatz between 2010 and 2014. In the conversation, he recounted the story behind the images with their many different aspects – such as his relationship with the subjects, his conceptual and design considerations, and the reactions to "Alexanderplatz."
In some of the participants' works, the urban space of Berlin became the setting for their exploration of the theme, whether on Tempelhof Field or in the forest near the wannseeFORUM. Some works from the final presentation on February 6, 2016, the exhibition of the Black and White Photography workshop, the multimedia exhibition of the Digital Photography workshop , and the screening of the experimental short film "Farbflackern" (Flickering Colors) can also be viewed online. These include impressions from the overall seminar "einfach leben" (simply living).