Beyond III – [post]colonial Present
Magazine for Photography / Exhibition / International Artist Exchange / Dialogue Forum
How do contemporary photographers from Africa and Europe, who share the common history of colonialism, approach their very different perspectives on the matter? Are there images of the Other that dominate the visual landscape? And what can we learn from each other?
Western capitalism and globalisation are closely linked to the history of colonialism. It has led to hierarchies and relationships still palpable in the post-colonial present; these structures are reproduced on a daily basis, particularly through images.
Beyond III aims to open a discourse on colonial structures in photography, the power of images in our time and the conditions of image production in a globalised world. Therefore, the initiative invited ten photographers from Africa and Western Europe to participate in an international exchange, to present their work in a magazine, a poster campaign and an exhibition, and to discuss their thoughts and ideas in a dialogue forum.
The project was conceived and realized by Juliane Herrmann (initiator of Beyond and freelance photographer, Cologne) and Marie Köhler (photographer and media artist, Cologne) in cooperation with the Internationale Photoszene Köln, Rautenstrauch-Joest Museum – Cultures of the World and AfricologneFESTIVAL.
Artists : Alexis Tsegba | Federico Clavarino | Holger Jenss | Ilvy Njiokiktjien | Manyatsa Monyamane | Malte Wandel | Nora Hase | Oliver Leu | Paul Shemisi | Puleng Mongale
Video Statements
Puleng Mongale & Manyatsa Monyamane
Even though all artists were invited to join the exchange programme in August 2021 and our team did everything humanly possible to get our international guests to Cologne, the two South African artists Puleng Mongale and Manyatsa Monyamane were not allowed to enter Germany due to a travel ban.
It is the sad proof that we still have to go a long way to fight racism and inequality. Therefore we asked both photographers for a video statement and would like to give them here the stage for their speech.