Everyone taking pictures? The history of photography and everyday culture at the City Museum Jena
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Jena in the mirror of photography: Everyday life, memory, and community
The exhibition Everyone taking pictures? Everyday and amateur photography in Jena at the Jena City Museum is dedicated to the local photography culture between historical image memory and digital present. From September 4 to December 30, 2026, the presentation navigates through the history of photography in Jena and asks how images shape our interactions.
From amateur images to digital image worlds
Historical photographs from the collections of the City Museum, private archives, and materials from Jena photography clubs enter into an engaging dialogue with current works from social media photographers. The curation traces the transformation of photographic practice from the beginnings of amateur photography through the photography circles of the GDR to smartphone images and digital image worlds.
Photography as visual memory
The exhibition understands photography not only as an artistic medium but as a cultural practice. Family photos, city views, and personal snapshots preserve memories, document social change, and make visible how people express belonging and identity. Black-and-white photographs, analog prints, and contemporary visual languages open up a multifaceted examination of the works.
Between urban history and contemporary culture
The artistic experience connects the history of photography, urban history, media culture, and visual anthropology. Involved are, among others, the Institute for Saxon History and Folklore, the Seminar for Cultural Anthropology and Cultural History at the University of Jena, the Technical Collections Dresden, and the LWL Museum Henrichshütte in Hattingen. This gives the local exhibition a broader scientific context.
Cultural education and personal perspectives
The exhibition invites visitors to view familiar image worlds with new eyes and to reflect on their photographic practice. Complementary tours and thematic formats deepen the exchange about everyday photography, memory, and social image culture. A photography competition under the motto Discover Jena – My favorite place or favorite view also gives visitors the opportunity to contribute their own perspectives.
Conclusion: An art experience about images that connect us
Visitors can expect an accessible and at the same time art-historically grounded exhibition about photography as a means of expression, medium of memory, and social bond. The special exhibition atmosphere arises from the interplay of private closeness, historical documentation, and digital self-representation. Anyone who wants to experience the aesthetic experience of photographic everyday culture live and discover Jena from unusual perspectives should definitely visit the exhibition at the City Museum.
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