How is ideology expressed in the past and in the present? What is hidden behind ideologies, how do they work and to what extent do they support power, manipulation, abuse, exclusion and exploitation, or even exercise these themselves? In its fourth edition from 3 June to 12 September 2021, on the theme of IDEOLOGIES, the international Triennial RAY Fotografieprojekte Frankfurt/RheinMain aims to use the critical potential of art, especially artistic photography and related media, to reveal the workings of past and present ideologies. For decades, institutions and collections in the Frankfurt/ Rhine-Main region have been home to a remarkable density and competence in the field of photography. After the first three successful editions RAY 2012, RAY 2015 and RAY 2018, this special quality and versatility is presented again in an exceptional constellation: over 22 artists, 15 partner institutions, 11 exhibition venues and 9 cities in the Rhine-Main region will join together to put this focus in the international spotlight. With exhibitions, a multitude of events and a three-day festival dedicated to the theme of IDEOLOGIES, the RAY Triennial offers a multifaceted exploration of photography.
RAY 2021 IDEOLOGIES Exhibitions
The thematic concept of RAY 2021 IDEOLOGIES was developed collaboratively by seven curators: Anne-Marie Beckmann (Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation), Christina Leber (Art Foundation DZ BANK), Alexandra Lechner (Independent Curator), Celina Lunsford (Fotografie Forum Frankfurt), Susanne Pfeffer and Anna Sailer (MUSEUM MMK FÜR MODERNE KUNST), as well as Matthias Wagner K (Museum Angewandte Kunst). The IDEOLOGIES Exhibitions with works and new productions of international artists will be on view at the following venues: Art Foundation DZ BANK, Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation in The Cube (Eschborn), Fotografie Forum Frankfurt, Museum Angewandte Kunst, MUSEUM MMK FÜR MODERNE KUNST.
With works by the artists Máté Bartha, Eddo Hartmann, Paula Markert and Salvatore Vitale, the exhibition Us and them of the Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation in The Cube (Eschborn) is dedicated to various communities whose identity formation follows the principle of segregation and thus also that of exclusion.
With its focus on Identities and Ideologies, the exhibition at the Art Foundation DZ BANK offers an insight into the multimedia work of Adrian Sauer, whose works question fixed patterns of thought. In doing so, he uses a method that exposes ideological action and enables identity formation.
The impact of ideologies on one’s identity and entire societies is questioned in the works of Akinbode Akinbiyi, Johanna Diehl and Qiana Mestrich in the exhibition at the Fotografie Forum Frankfurt.
The photographic and moving-image works by Yagazie Emezi, Mohau Modisakeng and Yves Sambu shown at the Museum Angewandte Kunst deal directly or indirectly with the historical abuses and the media image of “Africa”.
With Ja’Tovia Gary and her work The Giverny Suite, the MUSEUM MMK FÜR MODERNE KUNST shows how much not only pictures, but above all our gaze is ideologically shaped.
RAY 2021 IDEOLOGIES Artists
Akinbode Akinbiyi (*1946 UK/NG), Máté Bartha (*1987 HU), Johanna Diehl (*1977 GER), Yagazie Emezi (*1989 NG), Ja’Tovia Gary (*1984 US), Eddo Hartmann (*1973 NL), Paula Markert (*1982 GER), Qiana Mestrich (*1977 US), Mohau Modisakeng (*1986 ZA), Yves Sambu (*1980 CD), Adrian Sauer (*1976 GER), Salvatore Vitale (*1986 IT)
RAY 2021 Partner Projects
As part of RAY Fotografieprojekte Frankfurt/RheinMain, the following six RAY Partner Projects will present specially curated exhibitions and expand the theme of IDEOLOGIES with multi-faceted perspectives: Historisches Museum Frankfurt, Kunstforum der TU Darmstadt, Kunst- und Kulturstiftung Opelvillen Rüsselsheim, Marta Hoepffner-Gesellschaft für Fotografie e.V. im Stadtmuseum Hofheim, Museum Giersch der Goethe-Universität, Nassauischer Kunstverein Wiesbaden.
RAY Festival
A three-day-long festival with lectures and talks will take place from 1 to 3 September as part of the RAY Triennial. The RAY Festival will invite international artists, curators and experts to bring together diverse perspectives on the topic of IDEOLOGIES. The RAY Festival will take place at the Museum Angewandte Kunst. More information will be announced in the RAY Newsletter and on the RAY website.