This year, ENERGY: Redistributing Power and Taming Consumption travels to Dublin and Utrecht. The exhibition showcases a diverse anthology of photography projects focusing on energy—a complex issue impacting everyone, both privately and publicly. From personal stories to documentary and social approaches, to the exploration of the limits of photography as a medium seeking new forms of narration, each photo series and multimedia installation lined up in the ENERGY: Redistributing Power and Taming Consumption exhibition could stand on its own as a case study, providing a condensed representation of the ideas associated with this multilayered topic.
While some projects discuss the destructive forces of energy in warfare or in extractivist societies (Tanja Engelberts, NL; Yana Kononova, UA), others explore existing strategies as possible solutions (Dávid Biró, HU; Umberto Diecinove, IT; Antonio Guerra, ES), exemplify desirable companionships (Yana Wernicke, DE), and reflect on healing (Hien Hoang, VE/DE). Finally, there is a perspective on how colonial and capitalist structures have shaped contemporary cities and how the energy of presence in these spaces could be a form of resistance (Marta Pinto Machado, CV/PT).
Therefore, this exhibition explores the ecological, socio-political, economic, and humanitarian energy crises that both human beings and non-human entities face today. At the same time, it reminds us that energy is viewed—somewhat paradoxically—as the power we need to bring about change in the world. It serves as a catalyst for vitality, creativity, and strength.
ENERGY: Redistributing Power and Taming Consumption | Dublin
Hosted by PhotoIreland
Exhibition Run: 18 October – 10 November 2024
Location: North Bank House, Coopers Cross, 49 Castleforbes Road, North Wall, Dublin 1
ENERGY: Redistributing Power and Taming Consumption | Utrecht
Hosted by FOTODOK
Opening: 31 October 2024 | 17:00 - 20:00
Location: FOTODOK, Lange Nieuwstraat 7, Utrecht
Exhibition Run: 1 November 2024 – 2 February 2025
Featured FUTURES artists: Antonio Guerra, Dávid Biró, Hiền Hoàng, Marta Pinto Machado, Tanja Engelberts, Umberto Diecinove, Yana Kononova, and Yana Wernicke.
Based on a 2023 open call by FUTURES, this travelling exhibition was previously presented at the Robert Capa Contemporary Photography Center (Budapest).The projects were selected by a jury comprised of Ángel Luis González and Julia Gelezova (PhotoIreland); Emese Mucsi (Robert Capa Contemporary Photography Center); Daria Tuminas (FOTODOK); and Pamela Peters (FOMU).
