It has been said that conflict is what gives life its meaning. It is what feeds progress and lays the foundations for self-conquest. At the same time conflict has left a trail of destruction through history. It is a phenomenon with many faces: the tormented face of inner conflict, the bloody face of war, the empty gaze of hunger, poverty and oppression. In an ambitious and probing photo event five guest curators - a first for Noorderlicht - reveal their personal vision on the theme of "conflict".
Stuart Franklin, Lauren Heinz, Simon Njami, Marc Prüst and Bas Vroege take us with them to conflict areas, and provide their
commentary on developments in the vanguard of engaged, narrativedocumentary photography. But there is a strong thread running through all of this: conflict that remains hidden from the eyes of the world. As a result, Noorderlicht turns the spotlight expressly on footnotes in world history. With photographs which sometimes hit you in the face, and sometimes get under your skin, the 2009 event makes it clear that unseen conflict is also a story that must be told.
Other locations:
Aa-kerk
Groningen
Nature Museum