Around three months after the end of the 13th Wiesbaden Photo Days, we are pleased to present two pieces of documentation: a film summary that captures the special atmosphere of this photo summer in 4 minutes and 10 seconds, and a 76-page brochure.
The 13th Wiesbaden Photo Days have come to an end – and they leave behind many impressions: images, voices, conversations, impulses. And also questions that may continue to resonate for some time to come.
“Future? What future?!” – this double punctuation mark, combining a question mark and an exclamation mark, was more than just a motto. It was a mood, a diagnosis of the times – but also an invitation to think further. Many of the works did just that: they reflected our present, turned it into other perspectives, suggested new visual languages. Sometimes poetic, sometimes political. Sometimes documentary, sometimes conceptual.
Over 500 submissions from 25 countries. 38 selected positions – some of them on display in Germany for the first time. Seven exhibition venues in the heart of Wiesbaden. And a curious audience that was ready to engage with it all: with art ranging from classic prints to AI-generated images, with very personal stories and global themes, with quiet observations and loud statements.
A big thank you goes to everyone who made this festival possible: the participating artists, the teams at our host venues, sponsors, partners – and, of course, you, dear visitors.
What remains? Perhaps a different way of seeing. Perhaps a new way of thinking. Perhaps the desire to come back. In any case: thank you for your curiosity. Thank you for your time. Thank you for your trust.
And who knows—maybe we’ll see each other again. Not today. Not tomorrow. But we’re all photography enthusiasts: we’ll see each other… in the future.
The seven main exhibitions of the Wiesbaden Photo Days 2025 ended last Sunday with the presentation of the audience award. But the artworks and content of the Wiesbaden Photo Days 2025 will remain available digitally until the end of the year! Our new digital outreach program offers a variety of insights behind the scenes, into the making of the works and series, and into the fascinating ideas and concepts of the artists.
Arez Ghaderi wins the audience award at the 13th Wiesbaden Photo Days with his work “Hello Italy.” Congratulations!
The Wiesbaden Photo Days team would like to thank the audience for this statement at a time when the issue of migration is dividing society into different camps, even splitting it apart and opening the door to populist movements.
A big THANK YOU to Sabine Philipp from sam – Stadtmuseum am Markt for her wonderful laudatory speech. And another big THANK YOU to prize donor Daniel Oschatz, managing director of Oschatz Visuelle Medien in Niedernhausen.
This year’s Jury Prize was awarded to photo artist Verdiana Albano for her work “i ain’t from no east cast.” Congratulations!
“The Jury Prize goes to Verdiana Albano for her work I ain’t from no east coast – she impressed the jury with her powerful and multi-layered exploration of questions of identity, origin, and visibility. The combination of documentary and staged photography, archive material, self-portraits, and installation elements creates an ambiguous space for reflection that interweaves personal narratives with social relevance.” (Laudator Prof. Andrea Diefenbach, University of the Arts Bremen)
ABOUT THE WIESBADENER FOTOTAGE
Since its foundation in 2002, the Wiesbadener Fototage have seen themselves as a festival for contemporary artistic and documentary photography with international participation. The content of the exhibitions and the festival program is based on the respective annual theme. Conceptually, the Wiesbadener Fototage is based on the triad of exhibitions, accompanying program and sponsorship awards.
ORGANISING INSTITUTION
Wiesbadener Fototage gUG
Niederwaldstrasse 18
65187 Wiesbaden
info@wiesbadener-fototage.de
ARTISTIC DIRECTION
Jürgen Strasser
