How does our perception of time shift when we are confronted with illness or death? What profound effects are associated with the plastics we handle every day? Are there energies in nature that are imperceptible to the human eye? In the group exhibition Imagine Another Perspective, the Alfred Ehrhardt Foundation addresses these and other questions.

The works of the three international artists illustrate areas of the natural world around us that often go unnoticed but are essential to our survival - the invisible, the overlooked and the surprising. The exhibition is an attempt to train our vision and perception - in the hope of gaining a different perspective on our environment. By experimenting with various photographic processes and techniques, the artists also explore the process of photography itself.

The photographs of British artist Mandy Barker (\*1964) initially appear like fantastic creatures and galaxies. Only upon closer inspection does it become clear that these images actually show marine plastic waste that Barker herself has collected around the world; sometimes she also asks others to contribute finds. Mandy Barker has been working with scientists for over ten years to raise awareness of the pollution of the world's oceans by plastic waste and to highlight the harmful effects on marine life, the climate and ultimately ourselves. Photography, says the artist, has the power to encourage people to act, to move them emotionally or at least to sensitize them. It can stimulate discussion and even bring about change.

American artist Caleb Charland (\*1980) combines scientific curiosity with a purposeful approach to the process of creating his images. In his series "Back To Light" he takes a close look at a classic school science experiment - the "potato battery": a galvanized nail is inserted into one side of a potato and a copper wire into the other, creating a weak electric current. Charland finds the simplicity of this electrical phenomenon fascinating. His work addresses our collective curiosity about how the world works and global concerns about the future of our energy sources. Using long exposures and experiments with light-sensitive paper, Charland illustrates forces that are invisible to the human eye and yet exist all around us. He also draws our attention to the life of plants that goes on every day alongside our own.

In her series "Immortal's Birthday", Finnish artist Maija Tammi (\*1985) explores the life of the Hydra vulgaris , a small freshwater polyp that does not age. Her photographs examine the position of humans within the continuum of existence and aging. The artist explores practical and metaphysical questions that the Hydra has raised from the 18th century to the present day. Her work on the Hydra combines Greek mythology and spirituality with technology and biological research.


Imagine Another Perspective

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