Changing States: Ireland in the 21st Century looks at the ways photography has made visible the changing nature of the Irish state 100 years after the establishment of the Irish Free State and Northern Ireland. Specially curated by Photo Museum Ireland and Ralph Goertz, Director of the Institute for Art Documentation (IKS), Düsseldorf, this large-scale survey exhibition charts the development of contemporary photography, critically reframing contemporary life across the island of Ireland.
Moving from traditional documentary towards more socially engaged and conceptual approaches to the medium, Changing States: Ireland in the 21st Century considers how artists have responded to the profound shifts that have occurred in Irish society. It charts our complex and at times quite difficult transformation from an insular nation-state to a more liberal, globalised and multicultural society.
More informationPhoto Museum Ireland is the national centre for contemporary photography. The aim is to lead the way in showcasing the very best of photography for all audiences encouraging debate and new thinking about the role of the photographic image in society. Innovative exhibitions showcase work by established Irish and international artists to address important artistic, cultural or societal issues and reflect emerging photographic practices. Photo Museum Ireland is supported by The Arts Council and Dublin City Council.
The IKS – Institute for Art Documentation was founded in 2009 by Ralph Goertz and today contains the largest private media archive of contemporary art in Europe with almost 500 documented artists and 92 documentary films. The aim of the IKS PHOTO is to promote, preserve and convey the medium of photography through exhibitions and publications. The work of IKS PHOTO focuses on artistic and art-historical significance as well as social and societal relevance.
Haus am Kleistpark is one of the largest and longest-running municipal art galleries in Berlin and is affiliated with two further sites: the Haus am Kleistpark | Projektraum and the Galerie im Tempelhof Museum. As non-commercial contemporary art spaces, municipal galleries stand for cosmopolitanism, experimentation, and artistic discoveries at a high level with special emphasis on the promotion of artistic photography.