Artist
Josh Kern
Josh Kern (*1993), currently based in Leipzig, Germany, graduated with a bachelor's degree in photography at the FH Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts in 2022. Between 2018 and 2021, Josh Kern has published three books: "Räuber" (Eigensinn Publishing), "Love Me" (Eigensinn Publishing), and "Fuck me" (dienacht Publishing).
Hallo Asli
Josh Kern’s current project Hallo Aslı (working title) is about his girlfriend and his relationship with her. The stories that Josh is usually interested in are full of drama. There is always a hidden hook somewhere that seems to make the whole thing interesting. Aslı and Josh, on the other hand, have a healthy relationship that he could not imagine being any better. Although they argue sometimes, he is convinced that they only want what is best for each other. And despite Josh’s doubts as to whether such a topic will have any added value for others at the end, he could not stop thinking about this project - knowing that he will implement it sooner or later. Here, Josh is particularly interested in the question of whether it is possible to realize a project about a consistently positive theme without it becoming cheesy or superficial at the end.
Josh knows very well that he will not stop photographing his life and express himself through it. And since he is quite happy with his life tight now, it is only natural for him to deal with this question at that moment.
Daniel Chatard deals with the power dynamics and effects of lignite extraction in the Rhineland, examining the decades-long influence that energy company RWE has had on villages threatened by these industries.
Natalia Kepesz moved to Germany from Poland twenty years ago. She photographed Polish military camps for children, questioning why people in her country of birth love to play war and romanticise it so much in the process.
Josh Kern uses photography to tell stories that are full of drama, looking for hidden hooks to give his work a starting point. His selected project is about the positive relationship he shares with his girlfriend Asli – a topic he chose when wondering if so much positivity is healthy.
Angelina Vernetti sees her photo project EVERY BODY as a utopian narrative of realisable ideals of beauty, whilst SMILE EFFEKT examines the socio-cultural status of the birth control pill in Germany.
Tamara Eckhardt’s projects deal mainly with marginalised social groups – with a particular focus on documenting adolescence. She strives to shed light on her protagonists, whom she follows for months in the making of a project.