20. March 2015 - 28. June 2015
Between Myth and Ideology
Photographs from the lifework of Abbas

Jamaa Masjid Moschee, Dehli, Indien. 1994. Das Gebet zum Fitr-Fest beendet den Ramadan
Jamaa Masjid Moschee, Dehli, Indien. 1994. Das Gebet zum Fitr-Fest beendet den Ramadan
Foto: © Abbas / Magnum Photos
The Iranian-French photographer Abbas (*1944) took religion as his main concern. He shot the Iranian Revolution, documented Islam as a gobal phenomenon, including militant Islamism. To be able to document the everyday life of Muslims, he travelled from Xinjiang to Morocco, from London to Timbuktu, New York and Mecca. He photographed their rituals, their spirituality, and also their growing radicalisation. He deals with the spiritual power and the political significance of Christianity, as well as with Judaism. He visits animistic cultures, he explores the world of Buddhism and – in more recent times - the fourth big world religion, Hinduism.
Tarakhil, Afghanistan, 2005. Aus Raumnot findet der Unterricht in der von Japan gestifteten Dorfschule im Freien statt. Der Boden hatte zunächst von Minen gesäubert werden müssen.
Tarakhil, Afghanistan, 2005. Aus Raumnot findet der Unterricht in der von Japan gestifteten Dorfschule im Freien statt. Der Boden hatte zunächst von Minen gesäubert werden müssen.
Foto: © Abbas / Magnum Photos

While Abbas' images document spiritual contemplation, they also observe the shift of religions from cultural phenomena to ideologies with the power to cause wars. They capture the tension between tradition and modernity.

Montgomery, Alabama USA, 12. November 2003 Fundamentalistische Christen präsentieren die Zehn Gebote auf einer Kundgebung für den Obersten Richter des Bundesstaates Alabama, Roy Moore, der entlassen werden sollte, weil er sich weigerte, eine 15 Tonnen schwere Skulptur mit den Zehn Geboten aus der Eingangshalle des Supreme Court zu entfernen.
Montgomery, Alabama USA, 12. November 2003 Fundamentalistische Christen präsentieren die Zehn Gebote auf einer Kundgebung für den Obersten Richter des Bundesstaates Alabama, Roy Moore, der entlassen werden sollte, weil er sich weigerte, eine 15 Tonnen sch
Foto: © Abbas / Magnum Photos

Abbas has been – as the only Persian photographer – a member of Magnum Photos since 1981. His photos and stories have been printed worldwide in magazines like Stern, Newsweek, Paris Match or New York Times Magazine. A number of books featuring his work have also been published. His work is being exhibited in locations all over the world, a highlight being "The Children of Abraham", exhibited at the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo (2006). The Stadthaus exhibition offers an overview of Abbas' work as a photographer, a career that spans more than 45 years.
Project management: Dr. Raimund Kast
Opening: Thursday, March 19, 7 to 9 pm
Abbas will present a personal selection of his works and will comment on them (in english).
Introduction by Dr. Raimund Kast.