Tehran – Dortmund
Right before Christmas the German group gathered for their first official meeting. The group consists not only of photography students but also three graphic designers. There will also be three graphic design students from Tehran to team up with and to make the workshop more multimedia. During the meeting general information about the workshop and the differences in culture as well as the experiences are shared.
Two weeks past and the results of the photographic works are presented in the group. From documentary photography to Still Life and conceptual work the students made a variety of projects. Sharing the experience and photos gathered during the time in Germany, everyone seemed to have developed in their photographic skills. After the everyone presented their photos, the German students had a little surprise left for the Iranian visitors. Every student and teacher got a photo book previously selected by the team partner.
For a quick insight in the projects made in Tehran, the students prepared a small exhibition in the faculties own gallery. One picture of each project is displayed. After the opening speech of Prof. Jörg Winde and Dr. Mohamad Motarjemzadeh, the guests and exhibitors spend the evening talking about the projects and experiences.
As a special occasion, the whole group went to Osnabrück. Not only to see the beautiful new and old parts of the city, but also to take a look at the exhibition of Prof. Jörg Winde at the cultural museum of Osnabrück. Winde spend the last 13 years photographing the major´s offices around Germany. Parts of these photos built up the exhibition which is open till 23rd of September.
After the first photographic phase the students and teachers had a look over the pictures. Mostly discussing the strategies and concepts, the practical part of the workshop starts with a productive day.
The Museum Folkwang is one of the most important places for photography and art in Germany. Famous curators and changing exhibitions show contemporary photography and the classic masters. Here the students had some time to wander around and get an impression of the exhibitions.
The Iranian students visited the studio at FH Dortmund today. Together with the teachers all 12 students went through the single working spaces and learned about the different possibilities for studio work and printing. From digital medium format to printing large format images or renting equipment, the FH offers a lot for photography students.
Visiting the Ruhr Area, one thing can’t be avoided. The Zollern Colliery is one of the preserved Collieries and was turned into a museum after closing. During the guided tour, everyone learned about the working conditions and the dangers of working in a cole mine. Also the procedures every miner had to go through every shift and the equipment evolving in time were nicely displayed and an important part of the tours.
The first day is nearly over, but to celebrate the arrival of the Iranian guests a great meal is never wrong. Everyone gathered in a Portuguese restaurant and shared food and the first impressions. Next to a World Cup football game and a lot of food there was finally some time to relaxe and recalibrate.
All Iranian students and the teachers arrived safe and sound at Dusseldorf Airport after an very early flight from Tehran. Prof. Jörg Winde and research assistant Samaneh Khosravi picked them up for a direct transfer to the hostel.
After a short break, the workshop will officially start with a meeting at the design department of University of Applied Sciences and Arts Dortmund.