EVENTS

Photography workshop: „Making Democracy Visible“

In collaboration with the Partnership for Democracy The photography workshop took place in Kiel „Making democracy visible“ took place. The aim of the event was to view democracy not merely as a political system, but as something that is reflected in everyday life, in public spaces and in the way people interact with one another. Participants were invited to set out with their cameras in search of places, situations and perspectives that bring democratic values such as diversity, freedom, participation and solidarity into focus.

The photographic tour began with a visit to the 1st Kiel Democracy Festival at the boat harbour and the monument to the Kiel Sailors’ Revolt. Both locations offered different perspectives on the theme of democracy: whilst the Democracy Festival highlighted active democratic participation, dialogue and social engagement, the monument served as a reminder of the historical roots of democracy and its significance right up to the present day.

In addition, participants were invited to explore other places in Kiel on their own that they personally associate with democracy. This gave rise to individual photographic perspectives on democratic values and their expression in public spaces. Alongside this, participants were given various photographic tasks designed to encourage them to creatively translate abstract aspects of democracy into images. Themes such as balance, power dynamics, contrasts and commonalities were to be brought to life through motifs, perspectives and image compositions. The tasks offered a fresh perspective on the city and encouraged participants to engage deeply with the various facets of democratic coexistence.

During the workshop, the photographer, graphic designer and lecturer Betti Bogya supported the participants by offering expert guidance on image composition, perspective and the expressive power of photography. This resulted in a diverse range of photographs that reflected both documentary and artistic approaches to the theme of democracy.

The workshop demonstrated how photography can help to highlight social issues and raise awareness of democratic values in everyday life.