Remembering in the present. 80 years later – On war then and now.

World War II ended on May 8.5.1945, 2. To mark the 80th anniversary of this momentous event, also celebrated as the Day of Liberation from National Socialism, the exhibition recalls the effects of the war and related aspects of social realities that remain visible and perceptible to this day. In light of current war events and military attacks, as well as the increasing shift to the right, the exhibition aims to provide both visual and ethical foundations for reflection through its visual evidence and artistic concepts.

In Gatehouse 1 , the focus is on photographic documents created in Braunschweig during the war and the immediate postwar years, as well as comparisons with the pre-war period. The work of Gertrud Bergmann, Heinrich Gramann, Ruprecht Rieger, and Hans Steffens, whose estate is part of the Museum of Photography's collection, is presented in dialogue with photographs by American photographers commissioned by army divisions, such as Tony Vaccaro, and by Lee Miller as a war photographer. Their photographs were taken in other locations and cities throughout Germany.

The contemporary artworks and concepts shown in Gatehouse 2 can be thematically linked to some of the photographs shown in Gatehouse 1. Through their photographic and conceptual approaches, they address key themes related to aspects of the changing urban environment, private memory as symbolism, archival image practices, bunkers, and the theme of exile. These works are presented in dialogue with, and as important reference points for, photographs by eyewitnesses and war photographers such as Robert Capa and Hein Gorny, as well as private photographs taken by soldiers from World War II in Ukraine. Mykyta Manuilov's artwork addresses the current war in Ukraine.

The exhibition is a partial collaboration with the Braunschweig City Archives, which, along with other lenders, has provided artists with access to important documents and photographs.

In a comprehensive accompanying program to the exhibition, in addition to addressing the themes of the exhibition, aspects of social and personal relevance as well as conceptual and media-critical approaches to the topic of the representability of war will be presented and discussed.

Side events

Opening
Friday, February 02.05.2025th, 19, XNUMX:XNUMX p.m.
Opening address
Dr. Bernd Farny, Member of the Board, Museum of Photography Braunschweig
Dr. Henning Steinführer, Director, Braunschweig City Archives
Barbara Hofmann-Johnson, Director, Museum of Photography Braunschweig

exhibition tour
Saturday, March 03.05.2025th, 15, XNUMX:XNUMX p.m.
with participants of the exhibition and Barbara Hofmann-Johnson, exhibition curator

special Tour
Thursday, 08.05.2025/18/XNUMX, XNUMX:XNUMX p.m.
on the occasion of the end of the Second World War 80 years ago, with Barbara Hofmann-Johnson,
Exhibition curator

International Museum Day
Sunday, July 18.05.2025th, 11, 18-XNUMX p.m
12 noon: Talk with Yvonne Salzmann and "The Photo Album"
15 p.m.: Lecture “Pictures upon Pictures” by Michael Wesely
17 p.m.: Guided tour of the exhibition with Barbara Hofmann-Johnson, exhibition curator
and all day long: Photo bingo for kids and adults with a prize draw

Images of war? Gerda Taro and Robert Capa in the Spanish Civil War
Saturday, March 31.05.2025th, 15, XNUMX:XNUMX p.m.
Lecture by Linda Sandrock, research associate, Museum of Photography Braunschweig

Regular meeting: Depicting war
Tuesday, November 03.06.2025th, 18.30, XNUMX p.m
Lecture by Dr. Jule Hillgärtner, Head of Science and Art Lab, TU Braunschweig

Happy Thursday
Thursday, August 05.06.2025, 13, 20 p.m. - XNUMX p.m
Free admission and guided tour with the museum team every first Thursday of the month.
um 18 Uhr

Braunschweig Culture Night
Saturday, July 14.06.2025th, 18, 24 a.m. - XNUMX p.m
Short guided tours with the museum team every hour on the hour and live music in the
Museum Garden of Black Dog Jazz (Jazz Standards, Latin, Folk)

Jour Fixe: Thunderbolt Division Photographer – Tony Vaccaro
Tuesday, November 17.06.2025th, 18.30, XNUMX p.m
Lecture by Paul Oechsner

Joint tour with the Braunschweig City Archives
Saturday, June 21, 2025, 3 p.m./4:15 p.m.
through the exhibitions “New face for a destroyed city – Braunschweig’s
Post-war decades” in the Braunschweig city archives (from 15 pm) and “Remembrance in the present.
“80 Years Later” at the Museum of Photography Braunschweig (from 4:15 pm)

Closing event with exhibition tour
Sunday, June 29.06.2025, 16, XNUMX:XNUMX p.m
with participants of the exhibition and Barbara Hofmann-Johnson, exhibition curator