Disappearances

The exhibition Disappearances presents works by 13 Danish and international artists who in various ways illuminate and explores the phenomenon of disappearances, materially as well as thematic and cultural, through the photographic medium and other time-based media such as video.

The exhibition Disappearances is the first in a series of three exhibitions at Fotografisk Center which every year from 2023-2025 will propose a theme, focusing on some of the special characteristics of photography as a medium and showing how contemporary artists engage with the photographic medium – in a material, thematic and cultural context. The aim of the exhibition series is to contribute to the examination and discussion of the current artistic and cultural role of photography.

Historically, photography is associated with its special ability to capture time and to depict and ensure a manifestation of reality. However, photography is not only distinguished by its visibility and longevity, but also by the opposite, namely disappearances, absence and transience. The first exhibition of the trilogy presents works by Danish and international artists and artist groups who in different ways highlight and explore the phenomenon of disappearances through the medium of photography and other time-based media such as video.

The works in the exhibition address disappearances in various ways, both materially, in the form of investigations of photography as a physical object, its materiality and transience, as well as thematically, in the form of disappearances of people, objects and places. Moreover, the exhibition highlights the way in which disappearances and absences are also connected to our photographic image culture in a broader social context, both physically, as in collections and archives, and digitally, as in technology such as AI and image manipulation.

The participating artists are: Andreas Albrectsen (DK/BR), Paula Duvå (DK), Torben Eskerod (DK), Joana Hadjithomas & Khalil Joreige (LB), Nicolai Howalt (DK), Adam Jeppesen (DK), Kent Klich (SE), Oscar Muñoz (CO), SAFOM & Gitte Broeng (DK), Samaneh Roghani (IR), Marie Sjøvold (NO), Trine Søndergaard (DK), Niina Vatanen (FI).

Opening: August 25, 5-7pm

The exhibition and the publication is generously supported by the following foundations: Augustinus Fonden, Beckett-Fonden, Frame Contemporary Art Finland, Frimodt-Heineke Fonden, Grosserer L. F. Foghts Fond, Hoffmann og Husmans Fond, Knud Højgaards Fond, Overretssagfører L. Zeuthens Mindelegat, Politiken-Fonden, the Danish Arts Foundation, and Aage og Johanne Louis-Hansens Fond.  

Publication
In connection with the exhibition, a richly illustrated publication will be published with a text about the exhibition's theme by Signe Kahr Sørensen, director of the Fotografisk Center, and about the works in the exhibition. The publication is designed by Spine Studio and printed by Narayana Press. The publication will be released on September 14, where a launch will be held at Fotografisk Center from 6-8pm. 

Event program
In connection with the exhibition, a series of talks will be held, unfolding the theme of the exhibition. September 14 at 5-6pm a talk will be held with a focus on archives/collections and disappearances/invisibility with artist Trine Søndergaard, author Gitte Broeng and The Collection of Anonymous Photographic Material (SAFOM) by Lars Kiel Bertelsen, moderated by Charlotte Præstegaard Schwartz, curator of photography and research librarian PhD, The National Collection of Photography, Royal Danish Library.

October 12 at 5-6pm a talk will be held with a focus on documentarism and disappearances of places, objects and people with artists Kent Klich, Paula Duvå and Torben Eskerod, moderated by Professor Mette Sandbye. The talk will also relate to Fotografisk Center's upcoming research project in collaboration with the University of Copenhagen “The documentary art photography", supported by the New Carlsberg Foundation, which PhD scholar Oscar Vindel Schönström will begin September 1.

Image: Andreas Albrectsen, Notes (17.08.01), 2017, inkjet print on post-its, 263 X 380 cm. Photographer: Kristian Touborg