As we all know too well and have shared in since the beginning, starting in early 2020 and continuing well into 2021, there have been enormous changes and unprecedented challenges in every aspect of our lives: everything we hold dear, everything we take for granted, everything that provides us with comfort, everything that gives us a sense of security has been questioned and curtailed. Our sources of happiness, well-being, income, knowledge, recreation and trust have become areas of concern. Our daily needs and normal habits have put us at risk. And yet, nothing seems more human than wanting to take care of each other, our families, friends and ourselves, even if that means staying put, limiting our movement, scaling down personal liberties and restricting access to the many things that grant us joy. All that without a clear outlook and direction to provide us with a sense of confidence into the finiteness of our journey.
The voids in our lives allow us to re-evaluate what may be truly important to us. Privation proves to us what matters most. And absence demonstrates what is essential to us. These are the sources of our humanity and the resources in our daily lives. The material and the immaterial. Bread and roses. With a regained sense of who we are and what we want, we can start anew. The origin of a better future is always now. And photography is the perfect medium to observe this moment, reflecting the past and projecting towards what lies ahead. Our current expanded horizon provides us with a vast breadth of topics. It triggers hope, longing, imagination and anticipation.
For the next two editions, the Fotofestival Lenzburg will explore the theme of resources, developing an artistic proposal that tries to grasp the spirit of this moment in time and inviting photographers to participate in doing so. We will present our findings in September 2021 and September 2022.