Opening: Thomas Billhardt – Die Augen weit offen

Overview

The exhibition Thomas Billhardt: Die Augen weit offen explores the work of one of the most influential reportage photographers of the GDR, focusing on his creative period from approximately 1959 to 1972. Billhardt’s images capture everyday life, societal upheavals, and historical events with empathy and a deep interest in humanity.

For the exhibition opening, Jan Burghardt, who worked closely with Billhardt for many years and now manages the Thomas Billhardt Archive at CAMERA WORK Gallery, will join in conversation. The discussion,moderated by Claire Ducresson-Boët, Curator and Exhibitions Manager at Fotografiska Berlin, will center on the exhibition’s development, Billhardt’s photographic approach, and the stories behind his images. Together, they will provide insights into the photographer’s early work, artistic vision, and enduring legacy.

About the Panelists

Jan Burghardt

After many years working as a photo assistant at the Frankfurt studio of photographers, Professor Henner Prefi and Jens Ihnken, Jan Burghardt moved to Berlin to study photographic design at the Lette Verein. Alongside his studies, he worked as a freelance photographer and served as an assistant to internationally renowned photographers, including Helmut Newton, Annie Leibovitz, and Joel-Peter Witkin. Since 1997, Jan Burghardt has been a member of the team at CAMERA WORK Gallery. His wide-ranging responsibilities include cataloguing, archiving, and scholarly documentation of the estates and archives of numerous photographers. Since 2001, he also served as Collection Manager for the photographic life's work of Thomas Billhardt. Working closely with Thomas Billhardt, Burghardt has realized numerous book and exhibition projects with CAMERA WORK Gallery across Europe and Vietnam. Menschen ein.

Claire Ducresson-Boët

Claire is an Exhibitions Manager at Fotografiska Berlin. She holds a PhD in art history, specializing in the history of photography. Her research examines the afterlife of images – how they persist, reappear, and evolve through circulation, recontextualization, and remediation. As a member of the Berlin-based collective analogueNOW, she actively advocates for analog photography in the city.

Schedule

• 18:30 Doors open
• 19:00 Artist Talk and Q&A
• 20:00 Exhibition View

Tickets

• Event (inc. Museum access): 15 €

Please note that photos, videos, and audio recordings will be taken during the event and may be used for marketing and communication purposes, including social media, website, press, and printed materials. By attending the event, you consent to the possible use and publication of such recordings.

If you do not wish to appear in any recordings, please speak to our team or the host on site.