On Sunday, March 30, Villa Much was filled to the brim with photos. The Much Photography Club had brought their photographs for the open house. Under the theme “Art & Soup,” the villa at Schulstraße 10 was open from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Mayor Norbert Büscher spoke at the opening at 12:15 p.m. Afterward, I had the honor of opening the photo exhibition. And starting at 1:00 p.m., there was soup for everyone. That’s naturally part of the theme.
What a Large Image Does to Us
My speech focused on something that’s been on my mind time and again. We see so many digital images every day that we’ve already forgotten most of them before we even get to the next one. And then there’s a photo hanging on the wall, and you stop in your tracks. You step closer, then take a step back, and discover something you would have easily overlooked on your phone.
The Much Photography Club shares exactly this enthusiasm for images. Astrophotography, architecture, animals, and landscapes hung side by side in the villa. You can take your time in front of a framed photo. And if someone stops next to you, they might notice something completely different at first glance. That’s a wonderful way to strike up a conversation.
My Images on Handmade Paper
I brought along silver-albumin prints on handmade paper. I colored some of them with watercolors. What I like about these prints is that you can also see the paper. For me, its surface and irregular edges are part of the image. These are exactly the kinds of things you take a closer look at when you’re there in person.
Thanks to the Much Photography Club for co-hosting the exhibition, to the Villa team, and to everyone who took the time to look at the photos and chat. The Villa is meant to be a place where people from Much can meet and organize their own events. This Sunday, we got to see what that can look like.
