Temporalities of the Photograph 

Temporalities of the Photograph is a workshop designed to expand our understanding of how images move through time and space. Traditionally, photographs have been framed as static evidence of the past – what Roland Barthes called “that-has-been.” Yet, as we make, archive, and share images, photographs take on new lives. This workshop, organised by SAVVY.doc, draws inspiration from Stefanie Kulisch’s Flughafensee, which explores the lake as a shifting site of (human) proximity and freedom of convergence and departure, and from Muhammad Salah Abdulaziz’s Between the Niles, where he contemplates the dynamics of placement, probing the politics governing the distribution of elements within spaces. These works offer an entry point to the artists’ claim that, by dissecting symbolism, (un)seen elements emerge.

Over the course of the session, participants will engage with exercises that encourage “slow looking” and critical dialogue. Through these hands-on activities, the photograph emerges not as a single moment in time, but as a dynamic site of encounters. Each inch of an image holds equal importance, offering infinite possibilities. The workshop invites us to consider the photograph as a vessel, a means, and a destination, simultaneously.

Muhammad Salah Abdulazizis a Sudanese photographer and curator based in Berlin. Abdulaziz's artistic process is intuitive and responsive to his surroundings, allowing chance encounters to guide his artistic choices. He synthesizes various components into larger bodies of work, maintaining a slow pace of examination that fosters intimate engagement with explored themes. His photography often examines cities, relationality, and the organization, distribution, and experience of spaces both physical and psychic. He holds a B.A. in Linguistics and an M.A. in African Verbal and Visual Arts, specializing in curatorial studies and media in Africa. His academic background both; informs and influences his practice.

Stefanie Kulisch (she/her) is an artist and freelance photographer based in Berlin, Germany. Her work reflects a deep interest in landscapes and portraiture, often exploring themes of uncertainty and belonging. Stefanie studied Social and Cultural Sciences at the European University Viadrina in Frankfurt (Oder) and in Malmö, Sweden, as well as photography at the Ostkreuzschule für Fotografie in Berlin. Her work has been exhibited both nationally and internationally, including at the European Month of Photography in Berlin, Germany; the Voies Off Festival in Arles, France; and the Dak’Art Off Biennale in Saint-Louis, Senegal. Stefanie's personal projects focus on long-term artistic documentary works that investigate social aspects of coexistence with an intimate and often humorous view. Her professional practice spans personal projects, commissioned work, and her role as a freelance photography editor.