BRAUNSCHWEIG.- The Museum für Photographie Braunschweig is currently captivating audiences with its new exhibition, "Cultural Landscapes Water," a fascinating collection of photographs exploring the powerful and often subtle interplay between water and the environment. Open since February 22nd, 2025, the exhibition, a project of the Braunschweigische Landschaft e.V., showcases the work of both established photographers and exciting new talent.

This isn't just a random collection of pretty pictures; it's a carefully curated selection that builds upon the Braunschweigische Landschaft's existing "Cultural Landscapes" collection. In 2024, they held a competition specifically focused on the theme of water, inviting photographers to capture its multifaceted role in shaping our world. The response was impressive, with over 100 submissions flooding in. A jury of experts, including Natalie Czech from the Hochschule für Bildende Künste Braunschweig and Benjamin Füglister, director of the CAP Prize for Contemporary African Photography, faced the difficult task of selecting the winners.

Four talented photographers emerged from the competition: Jette Held, Oscar Lebeck, Kai Löffelbein, and Yana Wernicke. Their captivating images are now on display alongside works from the existing collection that also explore the theme of water. The exhibition offers a compelling dialogue between different perspectives, showcasing how water influences landscapes in diverse and often unexpected ways.

The opening reception on February 21st was a resounding success, culminating in the announcement of the competition winner, who received a €5,000 prize. A curator's tour with the participating photographers, held on February 22nd, gave attendees deeper insights into the artists' creative processes and the stories behind their images.

This exhibition isn't a one-off event. It's the beginning of a traveling exhibition, with Braunschweig as its launchpad. The Museum für Photographie Braunschweig has a history of showcasing photographic explorations of the region, and "Cultural Landscapes Water" fits perfectly within this tradition, connecting to past projects like "The Regional Memory."

Ulrike Lahmann serves as the guest curator for the Braunschweigische Landschaft e.V., bringing her expertise to this compelling project. A catalog featuring a selection of images from the exhibition will be published, offering a lasting record of this exploration of water's influence on the landscape. The collection itself is a valuable resource, owned by the Braunschweigische Landschaft and housed in the Braunschweig City Archive, available for future exhibitions.

If you're in the area and interested in photography, nature, or the powerful ways in which water shapes our world, be sure to visit the Museum für Photographie Braunschweig. It's an opportunity to see the world through a different lens and reflect on the vital role water plays in our lives and landscapes. The exhibition is open until April 20th, 2025.