What does it mean to be Jewish in Germany in 2022? In his search for answers to this question, photographer Jan Zappner conducted interviews with 29 women and men over the course of a year – and photographed them. The results are touching portraits of four generations, which are made even more vivid by detailed conversations – all of which can be read on the Mischpoche website. Personal feelings and critical views on topics like anti-Semitism, the Holocaust and Germany’s “culture of remembrance” feature in the images, which have also been published the book “Mischpoche – Being Jewish, however” (“Mischpoche” ≈ “family”). From 18h this evening (14.07.2022) you can join for the vernissage and book launch at the Galerie Erstererster in Prenzlauer Berg’s Pappelallee (the exhibition runs until Sunday). You can read why Zappner refers to Mischpoche as the “outing of his Jewish family history” and jokingly refers to the conversations as “therapy sessions” in his moving artistic statement here. The project, which is thought-provoking in many ways, was created in collaboration with Amcha Germany as part of “1700 Years of Jewish Life in Germany”.
Text: Nike Wilhelms / Photos: Jan Zappner
Galerie Erstererster, Pappelallee 69, 10437 Berlin–Prenzlauer Berg; map
Vernissage and book launch Thu 14.07.2022 at 18h. Exhibition runs until 17.07.2022 14–20h.
You can order the book “Mischpoche – Being Jewish, however” here.
@janzappner
