The exhibition “Sasha Weidner and Japan” presents a selection of photographs from the “Hanami” series, which were taken by Sasha Weidner during his residency at Villa Kamogawa, Kyoto, Japan in 2013.

Book presentation: In addition, an introduction of the newly published book “The Far Flowered Shore” illustrated by Satoshi Machiguchi, including texts by Bill Berkson, Kota Ezawa, Satoshi Machiguchi and Mariko Takeuchi will take place.

Thanks to the extensive donation by the Sasha Weidner Estate to the Sprengel Museum in Hannover, elements from that exhibition “It’s all connected somehow” – estate sighting (29 July to 19. November 2017) will be displayed concurrently. Consisting of more than 200 pieces, it is the largest collection of works, comprised of his written and digital estate.

The resulting images of the „Hanami“-series share the photographer’s personal view of the cherry blossom season in Japan. The cherry blossom is often associated with the commencement of spring, the act of departure and a new beginning, but also with the ephemerality of nature’s phenomena. In his motifs, Sasha Weidner captures the windblown blossoms or the trees filled with flowers of gleaming white, varying from delicate to vibrant shades of pink, emphasizing their effect through dark, light-swallowing backgrounds.

The fascination with and the beauty of the annual blossoming of cherry trees in Japan becomes clear in Weidner’s photographs. A certain melancholy and sadness can be extracted at the same time, which point towards the end of the cherry blossom and all life’s finitude. Events that shook Japan, such as the nuclear catastrophe in Fukushima, also make Weidners photographic motifs appear in dark lighting and allow for life and death, the display of splendour, and destruction to be confronted with one another.

I am driven, constantly searching, a romantically moved traveller…”

This is how Sasha Weidner describes himself on his photographic journey of discovery around the world: Los Angeles, Berlin, Frankfurt, Peking or Kyoto. Weidner’s photographs and their respective titles and then created series call attention to biographical experiences. They can be seen as a metaphor for the highly subjective sensory experience of his surroundings.
Sasha Weidner was born in 1974 in Georgsmarienhütte and died in Norden in 2015. He lived and worked in Belm and Berlin.

In co-operation with Galerie Conrads, Düsseldorf, Germany.

–

Save the date! Upcoming solo show:
Margot Wallard »NATTEN«
Dec 2, 2017 — Jan 27, 2018
Opening Reception: Friday, Dec 1, 6 – 9 pm

Sep 16 — Nov 25, 2017
Opening Reception: Friday, Sep 15, 6 – 9 pm

DOROTHÉE NILSSON GALLERY

Potsdamer Straße 65, 10785 Berlin
[Tiergarten | Mitte]

Opening hours: Wed – Sat 12 – 6 pm

Admission free

Public Transport:
Buses M48/M85 Lützowstr./Potsdamer Str., Bus M29 Potsdamer Brücke, U1+Buses 106/187 Kurfürstenstraße
BVG Journey Planner