C/O Berlin presents “Protektorat” by Silvia Rosi, winner of the C/O Berlin Talent Award 2024

“Protektorat” by Silvia Rosi opens today at C/O Berlin

C/O Berlin Artist Talent Award 2024 winner Silvia Rosi, a past Guest Room collaborator, debuts her thought-provoking project Protektorat in her first solo exhibition in Germany, opening today at C/O Berlin in the Amerika Haus.

Drawing upon archival materials housed in the National Archives of Togo, Rosi illuminates the pervasive spread of Western systems during the colonial occupation of Togo, which was first under the German Reich and subsequently by British and French forces. Her work interrogates the mechanisms through which local languages, traditions, and visual cultures were systematically overwritten, suppressed, and transformed under the weight of colonial domination.

Through "Protektorat," Rosi combines historical research with a poignant artistic lens, shedding light on the complexities of cultural erasure and resilience. Her work stands as a powerful testament to the enduring impact of colonial history and the necessity of re-examining these narratives in contemporary contexts.

Rosi's storytelling unfolds across multiple visual and sensory platforms, weaving together static photography, moving images, and sound. This immersive approach allows audiences to see, hear, and feel the impact of colonialism on cultural identities. By positioning herself as the central figure in her works, Rosi bridges the personal with the collective, embedding her own lived experiences into the broader historical narrative. Her presence serves as both a witness and a participant, creating a deeply intimate yet universally resonant exploration of identity and memory.

The jury was unanimously captivated by Rosi’s ambitious and nuanced interrogation of “the documentary” within photography, particularly in the context of postcolonial discourse. Her innovative and multifaceted approaches not only challenge traditional documentary conventions but also offer fresh perspectives on the role of art in addressing histories of power, oppression, and cultural resilience. Through her work, Rosi redefines the boundaries of photographic storytelling, crafting a powerful critique of colonial legacies and their enduring influence.

Katrin Bauer – winner of the C/O Berlin Talent Award 2024 in the Theorist category

The Theorist category of the C/O Berlin Talent Award 2024 proudly features curator Katrin Bauer as its winner. Bauer’s work is deeply rooted in postcolonial studies, making her an ideal complement to Rosi’s practice, whose work also interrogates themes of colonial power. Bauer’s research delves into the colonial structures of power embedded within the medium of photography, offering a critical lens through which historical and contemporary narratives can be examined and understood.

In addition to her expertise in postcolonial discourse, Bauer demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of diverse media practices and photographic image forms, encompassing both traditional and experimental approaches. Her ability to navigate the intersections of art, politics, and history allows her to contextualize artistic works within broader socio-political and aesthetic frameworks. This skill not only enhances the critical impact of the artworks she engages with but also underscores her unique curatorial vision.

New possibilities for the documentary: the 2024 Shortlist

Since 2018, the overarching theme of the C/O Berlin Talent Award has been “New Documentary Strategies” to encourage critical reflections on traditional documentary narratives and discover new possibilities for the documentary. The jury also nominated four shortlisted artists: Salih Basheer, Hiền Hoàng, Sheida Solemani and Yao Yuan. The four shortlisted artists for the C/O Berlin Talent Award 2024 share a commitment to redefining documentary practices by blending personal narratives with broader cultural and social themes:

While Basheer explores political turmoil in Sudan through “Blue: Children of January,” merging documentary photography with abstraction to challenge conventional conflict representation, Hoàng examines the spiritual significance of agarwood in Scent of Heaven, using photography, performance, and virtual reality to expand storytelling methods. Soleimani translates her parents’ escape from Iran into vibrant, symbolic tableaux in “Ghostwriting,” intertwining personal history with global themes. Ultimately, Yuan reflects on human existence in “1 2 3 2 1,” a photonovel documenting a friend’s journey through motherhood with poetic intimacy. A common thread in their work is a push toward hybrid forms of storytelling that bridge the personal and the universal, reimagining the potential of documentary photography.