Friday, April 25, 2024
Location: Auditorium, Kunstmuseum Den Haag
1:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Language: English
Admission is free

The Networked Audience research group, in partnership with Fotomuseum Den Haag, is pleased to present The Activated Image, a symposium reflecting on the evolving role of photography in an era of shifting audience engagement. Photography is undergoing a transformation, yet many of the changes remain under-explored in contemporary discourse. The Activated Image brings together influential photographers, curators, and researchers to discuss how images circulate and the ways in which they cooperate with their viewers to create meaning. 
This event marks the two-year anniversary of the research group.
 
Featured Speakers 
The symposium will feature five distinguished speakers, each bringing a unique perspective on photography and audience interaction:  


Donald Weber (photographer and educator) – Speaking about the Bureau of Operational Landscapes and its experimental publishing initiative: an automated bot service within WhatsApp that offers an alternative visual representation of the Port of Rotterdam.  


Randa Mirza (artist) – Exploring the construction of perception in media imagery, particularly the representation of Beirut, and how photography is used as a tool of sight and storytelling.  


Daria Tuminas (independent researcher and curator) – Presenting case studies from her curatorial practice, including the site-specific exhibition Here Near at Rencontres d'Arles 2023 and projects by Growing Pains in Amsterdam. 
 
Patricia Kühfuss (photographer) – Discussing her work on the visual representation of healthcare in German hospitals, and how photography can serve as a cross-disciplinary tool to reimagine professional care. 
 
Paulien Oltheten (artist) – Reflecting on her use of imagery originally created for other purposes, including insights her recent project Lourdes TV, exhibited at the Eye Film Museum in Amsterdam.  


Symposium Format  
The five-hour symposium will feature talks from each speaker, each followed by a visual response by a student from the MA Photography & Society (MAPS). There will also be Q&A sessions with the speakers.  


Why Attend?  
The Activated Image is a rare opportunity to hear from multiple prominent artists and researchers in one event, discussing a theme that is increasingly relevant in today’s media landscape. The symposium is designed for photographers, photography students, academics, and anyone interested in the evolving role of photography in society. Attendees will gain fresh perspectives on audience engagement and the changing ways in which images circulate and create meaning.