At the House of Photography: the Middle East sublimated

USD05, Yerevan – Yeghvard , 1997 – © Ursula Schulz-Dornburg

There is still time to appreciate the first major retrospective of Ursula Schulz-Dornburg at the MEP, or Maison Européenne de la Photographie, until February 16: 250 rare images, of a disturbing "immobility" and ultimately remarkable, which are exhibited under the title "Grey Zone/ The Land In Between".

The demanding work of the German photographer has for fifty years explored landscapes and geography in their relationships to social, political and cultural conflicts, particularly in regions where these tensions are of historical importance: Iraq, Mesopotamia, Syria or the border separating Georgia and Azerbaijan.

The hanging, over two entire floors, resembles an installation with its scenography which favors the systematic presentation of groups of repetitive photos.

This is also a work of documentary research, conducted in inaccessible regions. One thinks of 19th-century explorers and geographers, as well as the yellowed postcards of the early 20th century. Of course, Schulz-Dornburg 's work goes much further. It brings us closer to the profound soul and complex history of the Middle East. A major exhibition.

Ursula Schulz-Dornburg
European House of Photography
5/7 Rue de Fourcy, 75004 Paris
Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 20 p.m.
Thursday 11 a.m. to 22 p.m.
Until February 16, 2020

Text: Axel G. – Instagram

 27.01.20