Major photo exhibition set to take place in eight halls across Hamburg's cityscape
Preparations are underway for the 9th Triennial of Photography Hamburg in 2026, with renowned curator Mark Sealy at the helm. Despite a lack of specific details about Sealy's artistic plans for the event, his past curatorial practice suggests a focus on photography as a medium for critical discourse and diverse perspectives, addressing social, political, and postcolonial issues, and exploring narratives of identity, race, and history.
The 9th Triennial, set to open at Deichtorhallen Hamburg and Halle 424 in the Oberhafenquartier, will create discursive and imaginative spaces to explore the role of photography in human rights, cultural dialogues, difference, and forms of recognition. The curatorial concept for the eleven planned exhibitions is inspired by the song "Nature Boy" by Nat King Cole, a radical yet gentle message of love and humanity.
Applications for the 9th Triennale are open until September 15, 2025, and the festival invites artists, photographers, curators, and collectives, as well as project spaces and galleries based in Hamburg, to respond to the open call of the Expanded Triennale. The event will commence with an international symposium on November 7 and 8, 2025, in collaboration with the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR).
Mark Sealy, who is also a professor of Rights and Representation at the University of the Arts London, has a PhD in photography and cultural violence. His work has been instrumental in raising awareness about the power of photography in shaping narratives and fostering dialogue on critical social issues.
Originally penned by Eden Ahbez and released in 1948, "Nature Boy" serves as a fitting inspiration for the 9th Triennial, embodying a message of love and humanity that resonates strongly with Sealy's vision for the event.
For the most accurate and updated information on the 9th Triennial of Photography Hamburg, we recommend checking the official Triennial of Photography Hamburg website or announcements from the organizing institutions closer to the event date.
The 9th Triennial, set to open in various venues like Deichtorhallen Hamburg and Halle 424, will delve into the role of photography in lifestyle discussions, including human rights, cultural dialogues, difference, and forms of recognition. Artists, collectives, and galleries are encouraged to submit their home-and-garden practices for the Expanded Triennale, reflecting the curatorial concept inspired by Nat King Cole's "Nature Boy."
