The opening was wonderful. Many people came to cheer up the 19 photographers, who invested efforts in creating and executing interesting projects. Minutest details were given due attention in all the images. All the stories speak something about the world where we live. Maybe it raise questions, provide answers, or simply directs attention to the topic of the project.
But, somehow my enthusiasm fluctuates when I raise a wine glass, in such an exhibition. Not that I am against celebration. I love it. And I also believe that the visitors deserve the best welcome possible, because they invest time to go through those pictures, which we create to communicate with them. Probably I am one those, who believe an exhibition is not the end result of a photograph. It is not the resting place of the topic, it is perhaps the beginning of the discussion.
And, when I think of exhibitions as beginnings of discussions. I think that more thoughts should be put in the inaugurations. At the exhibition 'ENTER', 19 photojournalists are exhibiting their works at Centrum för fotografi - Stockholm. One of them worked in South Africa, where people are struggling against the current, to have a right over the water of their region. Someone lived with homeless people in the streets of Amsterdam. Someone spent weeks in Brazil and, I spent my time at Sundarban. And many others who went to different parts of the world, different cultures, different food and different kinds of drinks.
In the beginning of a discussion, I think it could be much better, to let the visitors taste the culture which the photographer witnessed. Maybe a drink very popular in South Africa, or coconut water like in Sundarban. And, let the visitor know why this coconut water is so special in the experience of the images they are about to dive in.
And, in the end, maybe a glass of wine over the discussion. A discussion that we all need from time to time, to make our society a better place.