In a comprehensive overview of her body of work since 1978, the Museum für Photographie Braunschweig presents the photographic works of Irmel Kamp (*1937, lives in Aachen and Switzerland).

For several years now, this work, which focuses on architectural themes, has been one of the artistic discoveries of a typologically oriented B/W photography that is characterized by individual perspectives and cultural-historical as well as sociological-atmospheric references.

The exhibition in at the Museum for Photography Braunschweig represents presents works from the work groups Zinc (1978-1982), Tel Aviv (1987-92), Bruxelles-Brussel (1996/97) and Modernism in Europe (1998-2006).
 In addition to individual perspectives on buildings and their imprint through form and aesthetics, the changes shaped by man and nature are always among the special features of Irmel Kamp’s photographs. The early, extensive group of works Zinc and the series Tel Aviv, which is also accompanied by a research project, represent a special group of works. Irmel Kamp already gained attention with this series about two decades ago. Since then, her works have been shown in solo exhibitions at the Ludwig Forum in Aachen, at the IKOB in Eupen and in various group exhibitions, such as recently in the NRW Forum in Düsseldorf with the exhibition Made in Düsseldorf#4 – Architektur (Feb – Mar 2022) as well as in several gallery exhibitions, and are now part of important collections.

After the Museum für Photographie had exhibited some of Irmel Kamp’s works with reference to the Bauhaus anniversary in 2019, the solo exhibition is dedicated to an overview of her entire photographic oeuvre, which can be viewed in the context of typological-artistic concepts within a documentary-oriented black and white photography. In some aspects it is reminiscent of the work of Bernd and Hilla Becher, which focused on early industrial architecture, although the selection of motifs and buildings as well as Irmel Kamp’s pictorial approach allows for more individual and subjective considerations of architecture in urban and rural spaces. The high-quality b/w photographs are mostly hand prints on baryt paper or PE paper.

Publication

A publication (German/English) accompanying the exhibition will be published by Buchhandlung Walther und Franz König with texts by Bettina Brosowsky, Tatjana Schneider, Andreas Prinzing and a conversation with Irmel Kamp and the curators Barbara Hofmann-Johnson (Director Museum für Photographie Braunschweig) and Markus Mascher (curator, deputy Director Leopold-Hoesch-Museum, Düren).

The exhibition is a cooperation project with the Leopold-Hoesch-Museum, Düren, where it will be on view in 2023.

Supported by:

Friday, June 24, 2022, 7 pm
Opening Reception & Summer Party
The artist will be present.
Welcome at 7 pm, with the following speakers:
Regine von Monkiewitsch, First Chairwoman, Museum für Photographie Braunschweig | Ulrike Schneider, Niedersächsische Sparkassenstiftung/Braunschweigische Sparkassenstiftung | Prof. Dr. Tatjana Schneider, Professor of History and Theory of Architecture and the City, Technical University of Braunschweig | Barbara Hofmann-Johnson, Director, Museum für Photographie Braunschweig | Markus Mascher, Curator & Deputy Director of the Leopold-Hoesch-Museum, Düren.
…followed by a summer party in the museum garden.

Saturday, June 25, 2022, 3 pm
Exhibition Tour
with the artist Irmel Kamp, the curator Barbara Hofmann-Johnson and Prof. Dr. Tatjana Schneider, Technical University of Braunschweig,

Every 1st Thursday/Month
Happy Thursday
Free admission, extended opening hours (1 – 8 pm) and a guided tour (held in German) at 6 pm.

Individual Guided Tours
This offer is addressed to schools and other educational institutions, to private groups as well as to companies. There is the possibility to discuss individual wishes and course content in advance. Registration & further information: Franziska Habelt, or +49 (0) 5331 75000.

For further accompanying events please visit the museum website!

June 25 — Sep 18, 2022
Opening Reception: Friday, June 24, 2022, 7 pm,
+ Framework program: please see above

Museum für Photographie Braunschweig

Helmstedter Straße 1 · 38102 Braunschweig

Opening hours: Tue – Fri 1 – 6 pm, Sat & Sun 11 am – 6 pm

Admission: 3,50 € / reduced 2,00 €. Happy Thursday: Free admission & extended opening hours until 8 pm & guided tour at 6 pm every first Thursday of the month.