Photography, urbanity, and joy of living: Der Greif X Werksviertel Mitte Kunst in Munich

Photography meets urbanity in Munich’s Werskviertel Mitte with Ania Rolińska, Blandine Soulage, Greg C. Holland, Lola Flash, and Yuxi Wang

Munich’s Werksviertel Mitte is a place where the past and future of urban space converge – a district shaped by industry, transformed into a vibrant cultural hub. In collaboration with Werksviertel Mitte Kunst and Werksviertel, Der Greif brings a new layer to this evolving cityscape: a curated series of large-scale banners featuring works by artists Ania Rolińska, Blandine Soulage, Greg Holland, Lola Flash, and Yuxi Wang. Entitled “Le/bens/freu/de” – German word that translates to "zest for life" – the collaborative project between Der Greifn and Werksviertel Mitte Kunst brings to the streets five selected images from Der Greif's online archive serve as windows, offering a coral visual narrative to passersby.

Subtle visionary undertones resonate throughout, emphasizing the need for human-centered urban development – guided by ecological and social sustainability as well as (socio)cultural interventions. The selected images reflect visions or relationships that, through the context of the Werkviertel, acquire an urban reference without necessarily depicting it directly. The interplay between the photographs and the facades is designed to foster dialogue, intuitively engaging viewers' imagination and evoking a fundamental sense of vitality and joy.

This initiative explores the intersection of photography and creativity and social engagement. The banners do more than display images – they interact with the urban fabric, inviting passersby to consider how artistic expression shapes our understanding of public space. Through photography, the selected artists challenge conventions of visibility, representation, and the narratives embedded in architecture and social structures.

As Werksviertel Mitte continues its transformation into a dynamic district, this collaboration highlights the role of contemporary photography in fostering dialogue – between past and present, the built environment and its inhabitants, and between local and global perspectives.

Ania Rolinska’s image “Embrace III”, from the series “Dance, Dance, Dance”, is a deeply personal exploration of self-discovery, movement, and the relationship between body, space, and identity. Rooted in storytelling, the series captures her journey of reconnecting with her body through dance, initially an unfamiliar yet ultimately liberating practice. Set against a vast landscape the image documents moments of aliveness and vulnerability, where movement becomes an intuitive response to the environment, reflecting on resilience and the process of shedding societal expectations to reclaim one's authenticity. Through self-portraiture, Rolinska transforms the act of dancing into a form of self-acceptance, mirroring the fluidity of identity and the deep connection between the self and nature. Displayed in an urban setting, the image takes on a paradoxical meaning – where solitude and freedom in nature contrast with the visibility and exposure of city life, highlighting themes of female representation, aging, and personal liberation.

Blandine Soulage’s image from the series “Déviation” reimagines the human body’s relationship with space, disrupting conventional movement and perception through unexpected poses and perspective shifts. Collaborating with dancers, Soulage captures fluid, poetic gestures directly in-camera, transforming physical motion into surreal, almost dreamlike narratives. Set against minimalist architectural backdrops, her images harness negative space as a visual breath amid the city's relentless pace. The series invites viewers to reconsider spatial dynamics, embracing the unanticipated trajectories that redefine their surroundings.

Greg C. Holland’s work in Palestine challenges dominant media narratives by shifting the focus from conflict to the resilience, creativity, and joy of Palestinian youth. Through his intimate engagement with the local skateboarding community, Holland offers a counterpoint to the Western media’s portrayal of the region, exposing the stark contrast between reality and propaganda. His image “Skatepal Skate School” and the whole series capture moments of freedom, camaraderie, and self-expression, emphasizing the universality of childhood beyond political and geographical constraints. Skateboarding, as he presents it, is not just a sport but a powerful form of storytelling – one that embodies resistance, determination, and solidarity. By documenting the vibrant artistic and cultural life in Palestine, Holland’s work serves as a visual testament to the spirit of a people whose narratives extend far beyond the images of violence that dominate mainstream coverage. His photographs are an invitation to look beyond the headlines and witness the humanity, creativity, and joy that persist despite oppression.

Lola Flash’s project “syzygy, the vision” is an evocative exploration of identity, spirituality, and the intersection of Blackness and queerness through a cosmic lens. Drawing on the celestial phenomenon of ‘syzygy’ – when three celestial bodies align – Flash creates a visual dialogue that connects history, identity, and the cosmos. Using a distinctive color palette and infrared photography, the series transforms subjects into ethereal figures, emphasizing their presence beyond societal limitations and oppressive structures. The work reflects on the alignment of personal and collective histories, questioning how marginalized identities navigate time and space. Through “syzygy, the vision,” Flash continues her commitment to challenging stereotypes and offering a powerful, alternative vision of representation, where Black and queer bodies are not only seen but celebrated as luminous, transcendent forces.

Yuxi Wang’s image “Moments of Silence” from the series "Revisiting the Phenomenon” reflects her fascination with the interplay between natural and man-made landscapes, blending reality and imagination to construct a parallel world that transcends the present moment. “I find myself increasingly drawn to details, habitual gestures, objects, and the traces they leave behind. These elements often communicate more profoundly than a direct gaze ever could,” Wang explains. Her images introduce a moment of pause – a subtle disruption that encourages viewers to reconsider overlooked landscapes and emotions in everyday life. Beyond its visual impact, this intervention carves out an open emotional entry point within the urban fabric, amplifying the symbolic weight of objects as they evolve from intimate personal memories into part of the city’s shared emotional current.