"Just a Moment" in Jena: An Exhibition about Dementia and Volunteering
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Between Closeness and Memory: An Exhibition about Dementia and Living Volunteerism
The Ernst-Abbe-Library Jena is showcasing the double exhibition "Just a Moment - Encountering Dementia" and "Volunteering" from September 22 to October 24, 2026. In collaboration with the association Tausend Taten e.V., the presentation connects impressive black-and-white photographs with a socially important question: How do closeness, dignity, and participation develop in the daily lives of people with dementia?
Black-and-White Photographs as Gentle Observations of the Work
The aesthetically designed photo panels draw attention to everyday situations of people with dementia, their relatives, and committed volunteer mentors. The reduced imagery of black-and-white photography focuses perception on faces, gestures, and interpersonal relationships. Light, contrast, and body posture become silent carriers of memory and encounter.
The exhibition understands photography not as a distant documentation, but as an invitation to mindful observation of the works. Each depicted moment preserves an individual personality and simultaneously opens a gateway to experiences that are often accompanied by uncertainty or prejudice in public consciousness.
Two Themes, One Human Connection
"Just a Moment - Encountering Dementia" and the presentation on volunteering are closely related. Dementia alters the daily life of those affected and their relatives, yet social closeness remains a central human resource. The voluntary mentors of the association Tausend Taten e.V. build bridges into daily life and offer time, attention, and community.
In this connection lies the special curatorial quality of the exhibition: It does not solely focus on an illness but also shows relationships, possibilities for action, and forms of lived solidarity. The photographs create a space for cultural education, reflection, and personal engagement.
Exhibition Atmosphere in the Ernst-Abbe-Library
The Ernst-Abbe-Library Jena becomes a place for a silent aesthetic experience. Amid books and photographs, a concentrated exhibition atmosphere emerges, inviting visitors to pause. The black-and-white images unfold their effect especially in immediate contemplation: Faces come forward, spaces feel open, and small gestures gain surprising intensity.
The artistic experience combines societal information with emotional perception. The exhibition offers a low-threshold access to an important topic and demonstrates how visual culture can promote empathy. It makes visible that cultural participation and social engagement are closely intertwined.
A Contribution to Cultural Education and Social Participation
The exhibition is aimed at everyone interested in photography, social issues, and the realities of older people. It provides an opportunity to reflect on the handling of dementia, family responsibility, and the importance of voluntary engagement in urban society.
Instead of giving quick answers, the presentation opens up space for questions: How do we encounter people with dementia? What roles do patience and attention play? And how can volunteering overcome loneliness? The photographs make these questions sensually tangible and connect art education impulses with social enlightenment.
Conclusion: A Silent, Moving Art Experience
The double exhibition in the Ernst-Abbe-Library Jena promises an intense encounter with black-and-white photography, human closeness, and the value of volunteer support. Visitors can expect not a spectacular exhibition experience but a concentrated observation of the works that resonates. Take your time for this special moment and experience how art, memory, and social engagement come into dialogue.
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