Artist Meets
Archive #4
2024/25

The Internationale Photoszene Köln is hosting the Artist Meets Archive program for the fourth time in collaboration with the photographic collections and archives of the city of Cologne. International artists are invited for a residency at the participating institutions, where they engage with the respective collections and develop exhibitions that will be presented as part of the Photoszene Festival in Cologne.

The fourth edition of Artist Meets Archive was launched in early 2024 with a major innovation: for the first time, an Open Call was issued for the residency program jointly with the partnering institutions. As a result, five artists from Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Poland, and Spain were invited to Cologne. During the summer of 2024, Marta Bogdańska, Elena Efeoglou, Andrés Galeano, Pauline Hafsia M’barek, and Jimmi Wing Ka Ho spent several weeks in the city for their research residencies. During this time, they immersed themselves in the photographic collections of the Dombauarchiv, the Kölnisches Stadtmuseum, Museum Ludwig, the Photographische Sammlung/SK Stiftung Kultur, and the Rautenstrauch-Joest-Museum. Through this exploration, they engaged with Cologne’s rich photographic history and material(s) to develop new artistic projects. As always, the results will be showcased during the Photoszene Festival, which opens on May 16, 2025. Save the date!

Artist Talks & Archive Tours

Supporting program during the residencies

In July and August 2024, the five selected artists of our Artist Meets Archive program spent their residencies in Cologne, delving into the photographic collections of the various institutions to develop their new works. Additionally, we offered the public the opportunity to meet the artists and institutions through a series of events:

Artist Talks

At the Dombauhütte, Elena Efeoglou, Andrés Galeano, and Pauline Hafsia M’barek gave fascinating insights into their work and shared their impressions of their individual encounters with each archive. At the Kölnisches Stadtmuseum, Marta Bogdańska and Jimmi Wing Ka Ho engaged in a conversation with Helena Weber, discussing their specific approaches and discoveries within the respective collection.

Archive Tours

We had the chance to explore three extraordinary photographic collections together: At Museum Ludwig, Miriam Szwast led us through the depot, offering exclusive insights. With Lucia Halder, we immersed ourselves in the complex photographic holdings of the Rautenstrauch-Joest-Museum. Gabriele Conrath-Scholl and Claudia Schubert provided us with exciting glimpses into the archive of the Photographische Sammlung/SK Stiftung Kultur.

About Artist Meets Archive

The extensive and diverse photographic holdings in the collections and archives of the City of Cologne exemplify the medium's omnipresence and versatility since its invention. Following a selection process led by a jury of representatives from the participating institutions, Photoszene, and external experts, the chosen artists are invited to Cologne for a residency, where they engage with the photographic collections, conduct research, and develop their own lines of inquiry. During the first year of their stay, the program includes joint archive visits, networking events, artist talks, and other opportunities for the public to connect with the artists and their work. The outcomes of these artistic explorations culminate in solo exhibitions, presented as part of the Photoszene Festival in May of the following year.

Past Participants of the Programme:

Artists Institutions