Franciska Legát
»Rozina on the S-Bahn«, 2025
»Rozina on the S-Bahn« is part of »Melancholy of Freedom«, an ongoing photo series that explores the lives of Hungarian families and individuals who have emigrated to Berlin at different times and for different reasons. Set against a broader historical backdrop, the series reflects on a familiar emigration pattern: initially, many left Hungary after the regime change in search of better opportunities; today, departures are increasingly driven by a shrinking space for freedom and growing political disillusionment at home.
Yet, as the title suggests, the experience of emigration is complex and often tinged with melancholy. Moving to a new country does not always fulfill the promise of a better or freer life. Emotional displacement, cultural estrangement, and the persistent tension between belonging and alienation weave through the lives of those portrayed.
Berlin itself becomes a symbolic landscape throughout the series: a city historically associated with freedom, yet also marked by its divided past. Its urban fabric — where remnants of communist monuments coexist within a continually evolving Western metropolis — serves as a metaphor for the contrasts and contradictions faced by the emigrants. Through intimate portraits and urban scenes, Melancholy of Freedom captures the fragile hopes, lingering disillusionments, and quiet resilience that define the emigrant experience.
Maria Mavropoulou
»Dispatches from Athens«, 2019
»Dispatches from Athens« seeks a new perspective on the ancient world — not as a distant, bygone era, but as a living foundation intricately woven into the present. Rather than viewing antiquity as a static relic, the project approaches it as a vital, evolving element that continues to shape contemporary life and thought.
Set in Athens, the birthplace of democracy and a cornerstone of Western civilization, the work reflects on how the monuments, philosophies, and ideas of antiquity are not frozen in time but are constantly reinterpreted and recontextualized. These remnants are not simply markers of the past; they are active participants in today’s cultural and political landscapes.
Athens’ ancient structures and ideals have weathered centuries of change, yet they endure, layered with new meanings. In photographing these sites, I sought to move beyond traditional representations that cast them solely as historic icons. Instead, I aimed to capture their presence as part of the living city—a city grappling with modern challenges while standing on the foundations of its ancient heritage. »Dispatches from Athens« invites viewers to look at these symbols anew, to see not just what they were, but what they are now, and how they continue to resonate within the contemporary world.
Gil Bartz, Photo:
»Fragments of Climate Change«, 2022
»Fragments of Climate Change« depicts a Bavarian folk group passes by Air Force One after welcoming the American president at Munich Airport in Germany. The 48th Group of Seven (G7) summit was held in June 2022 at Schloss Elmau in Bavaria, with total costs reaching 166 million euros and more than 18,000 security forces deployed. The summit marked the first G7 meeting for German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, taking place amid global crises demanding urgent action.captures a society on the brink of environmental collapse, documenting Germany's efforts to become a climate-neutral industrial nation by 2045. The country has committed to phasing out nuclear energy and coal-fired power by 2038, and its climate law mandates drastic cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. As a global pioneer in climate policy, Germany’s journey highlights the enormous challenges involved in transitioning to a sustainable future.
To meet its targets, Germany must triple its number of solar panels and wind farms by 2030. This has sparked a new era of green colonialism, with rich nations driving demand for critical raw materials like lithium and copper, straining global resources. Despite its economic strength, Germany struggles to adapt to climate extremes.
While the country met its 2022 climate goals, progress remains insufficient, as warned by Dirk Messner, President of the Federal Environment Agency. Through fragmented images, this project reflects the values, contradictions, and societal tensions at a critical moment, portraying Germany’s complex and turbulent path toward a greener future.
Ira Lupu