We warmly invite you to the opening of the double exhibition of Cécile Monnier and Janis Polar. Discover the multimedia works ‘Antarctic Archive’ by Janis Polar and ‘turn around, turn around, turn around’ by Cécile Monnier, which include immersive video installations and cleverly devised scenographic elements.

The Photoforum is delighted to kick off 2025 with two special exhibitions. “Antarctic Archives” by Janis Polar and “turn around, turn around, turn around” by Cécile Monnier invite us to reconsider our relationship with the natural world. While Polar critically questions the colonial and geopolitical narratives surrounding Antarctica, Monnier sheds light on the ambivalence of human practices such as fly fishing and reflects on her personal roots and their influence on her relationship with nature in a new work.

The projects by the two artists are part of a thematic dialogue, complemented by a research library and a thematic text by the author Ann Mbuti. Together, they open up new perspectives on the question: How do we as humans position ourselves in relation to the natural world?

This question is a fitting prelude to our theme for 2025, which, under the title “Reclaim the Narrative”, explores the transformative power of photography and its ability to initiate social debates, question personal narratives and open up new perspectives on the key challenges of our time.

Evening programme :

17:15 : Speeches by Paul Bernard (Director Kunsthaus) and Amelie Schüle (Director Photoforum)

18:00 : Guided tour with the artists Janis Polar & Cécile Monnier

Come and also enjoy a delicious meal !