Community Photography and Belonging

The soccer fan club, the family, the political collective – people need to belong. Since the invention of photography, the medium has not only captured belonging, but can also fuel or question it. Photography makes it possible to demonstrate that you are part of something bigger. It can also be used to draw boundaries with those who are not part of one's own community.

The exhibition, which will be on display at the Kunstpalast from February 11 to May 25, 2026, sheds light on the multifaceted relationship between photography and community in the past and present. It brings together applied and artistic positions that explore this relationship – whether with subtle humor, impressive solidarity or with the aim of precise analysis.

The exhibition is developed from the photographic collection of the Kunstpalast and supplemented by international loans. Visitors will be actively involved in the exhibition and can contribute their own community images. The exhibition is accompanied by a richly illustrated catalog with essays from art history, sociology and historical research.