Käthe Buchler today – Art from waste
Special exhibition featuring works by children and young people on the topic of waste collection and upcycling.
September 10.09 – December 2026 / Braunschweigische Landessparkasse, Dankwardstraße branch
Mon, Fri: 9am–1pm; Tue, Thu: 9am–1pm + 2:30pm–6pm
Käthe Buchler, Children queuing to hand in glass bottles, 1915 © Estate of Käthe Buchler – Collection Museum of Photography Braunschweig / Deposit City Archives Braunschweig
Playful , photograph of children from the photography workshop with the Morgenstern after-school care program at the Museum of Photography Braunschweig, 2026 © Tamara Eckhardt / Museum of Photography Braunschweig
Maria Caroline S. & Shahad Lahmouni, World Explorers, 2026, Location and material: Museum of Textile Art © Christian Retschlag / Museum of Photography Braunschweig
In 2026, the Museum of Photography Braunschweig will celebrate the 150th birthday of Braunschweig photographer Käthe Buchler (October 11, 1876 – September 14, 1930), whose estate has been part of the museum's collection since 2003 and is largely held as a deposit in the Braunschweig City Archives. The estate includes approximately 1000 glass negatives, around 240 Autochrome prints, slides, albums, vintage prints, and archival materials. The Museum of Photography has extensively researched Käthe Buchler's work in recent years and has already realized several projects. We are taking this anniversary as an opportunity to celebrate and present Buchler's multifaceted work: with a major exhibition opening on October 2nd and the dedication of Käthe Buchler Square. The opening event will be the exhibition project "Käthe Buchler Today – From Waste to Art," created with the participation of children and young people and in cooperation with renowned photographers.
During the First World War, Käthe Buchler's photography focused on the work of charitable and social institutions, employing a particular artistic and compositional eye. She consistently combined artistic vision with individual documentation. This includes the photographs she took in 1915 for the Braunschweig Waste Management Company (AVG), depicting children participating in joint waste collection efforts. Her images illustrate how themes such as responsibility, resource conservation, and social cohesion can connect generations. Today, Buchler's photographs remain relevant, albeit in a different context: This is demonstrated by joint initiatives such as the Braunschweig city cleanup, which took place again this year on March 6th and 7th.
The Museum of Photography is using Buchler's photographs and his 150th birthday as the occasion for a joint project with children and young people. In several workshops led by renowned photographers Tamara Eckhardt , Göran Gnaudschun , Catherine Peter , and Christian Retschlag , participants will creatively explore the themes of waste, sustainability, and social responsibility. The result will be their own photographic works and art objects.
A special highlight: The resulting works will be shown in an exhibition from September 10, 2026 in the premises of the Braunschweigische Landessparkasse in the Dankwardstraße branch.
The exhibition is being created in cooperation with the city of Braunschweig and with generous support from the Braunschweigische Sparkassenstiftung, which has also been involved in the city clean-up for many years.
Exhibition location:
Braunschweig State Savings Bank
Branch at Dankwardstraße 1
38100 Braunschweig
Opening hours:
Mon, Fri: 9am–13pm
Tue, Thu: 9am–1pm, 2:30pm–6pm
Funded by:
