CHAUSSEE 36 Photography in Berlin is commemorating its 10th anniversary with a major group exhibition titled "Retrovision," which looks back at the gallery's most significant shows while pointing toward its future direction. The anniversary exhibition runs from September 19 through November 8, 2025, and offers visitors a comprehensive overview of the gallery's decade-long commitment to contemporary photography and social issues.
The retrospective revisits three landmark group exhibitions that have defined CHAUSSEE 36 Photography's programming philosophy and cultural impact. These foundational shows include "Europe Under Construction" from 2015, "Women on View" from 2019, and "Behind Desire" from 2020. Each exhibition addressed critical contemporary themes through the lens of photography, establishing the gallery as a significant voice in European cultural discourse.
A special component of the anniversary celebration is "CHAUSSEE 36: Site Memories," which provides an unprecedented look into the gallery's origins and evolution. This section features previously unseen photographs that offer intimate insights into the building's sustainable transformation over the years. These archival images document the space's journey from its original state to its current role as a cultural institution, highlighting the gallery's commitment to environmental responsibility.
The three featured exhibitions represent the gallery's core mission to explore pressing societal issues through historical, sociological, and philosophical perspectives. Together, these shows have addressed fundamental themes including European democratic values, gender equality, eroticism, and environmental sustainability. The originality and continuing relevance of these topics have established CHAUSSEE 36 as a thought-provoking cultural institution that consistently champions important social causes.
The original exhibitions featured works by more than 100 photographers and were presented in collaboration with numerous partner institutions, demonstrating the gallery's extensive network within the international photography community. For this anniversary presentation, the themes from these past exhibitions are brought into dialogue with each other, creating new conversations and connections between different bodies of work and ideas.
The anniversary exhibition is enriched by works from the Collection De Gambs, as well as newly-loaned pieces from various partner institutions specifically for this special occasion. This combination of previously exhibited works with fresh additions creates a unique viewing experience that both honors the gallery's history and introduces new perspectives on familiar themes.
To complement the exhibition, CHAUSSEE 36 Photography has organized a special program of events throughout the run of "Retrovision." The gallery is located at Chausseestrasse 36 in Berlin's Mitte district and can be contacted at +49 (0)30 2809 7647. Additional information about the exhibition and related programming is available at www.chaussee36.photography/retrovision.
