Catherine Opie "The pause that dreams against erasure"

The Fridericianum presents the first institutional solo exhibition of Catherine Opie in Germany, in parallel with the artist's show at the National Portrait Gallery in London. The presentation has been specifically designed by the artist for the Fridericianum, allowing the works to enter into a dialogue with the architecture and history of the historic building. Central groups of works from over thirty years are showcased: from early portrait photography in the LGBTQIA* communities, through photographic series that explore landscapes as resonant spaces for identity, hopes, and traumas, to documentation of movements such as Black Lives Matter or protest marches in the context of Donald Trump's presidency. The questions of what makes a person, what influences shape them into what characterizes them, how a detachment from determinative societal influences is possible, and what alternative life designs could be realistic options form the central framework for Catherine Opie's work. Since the early 1990s, the artist has been working on a complex body of work that includes photographs, but also films, art books, and installations. Opie draws on the traditions of socially oriented photography from the 20th century and subjects them to a far-sighted, empathetic update. In doing so, she establishes her own visual language and aesthetics, making her one of the most influential positions in contemporary art due to the social relevance of her themes.