Winterthur Photography Museum
Between the photo lab and free imagination: Where the image becomes a connecting space for all generations
<p>At the Fotomuseum Winterthur, mediation is not merely an accompanying program but a fundamental pillar. In light of rapid digital development and AI-generated images, the concept aims to strengthen visual and media literacy and establish the museum as an open social space («third place») between everyday life, school, and work.</p> <p>From Observing to Taking a Stand: Visual Content Shapes Our Reality. The transmission encourages critically reading and consciously questioning images (e.g., regarding disinformation, facial recognition, Big Tech, or self-representation). Those who understand images also grasp how reality is constructed.</p> <p>Dialogue instead of frontal teaching: Dialogical tours focus on shared exchange («What do we see? What does an image evoke?»). Exhibition workshops connect this critical observation directly with one's own practical creativity.</p> <p>Analog Practice in the Lab: In lab workshops, participants experiment with light, shadow, and time. Through historical and artisan methods such as photograms, cyanotypes, or the camera obscura, the physical principles of photography are made understandable.</p> <p>Natural Intergenerational Dialogue: In family workshops and during explorations with interactive activity booklets (for children aged 5-12), young and old meet on equal footing. The exchange arises spontaneously through shared activities – exposing, developing, and marveling in the lab. Inclusion, Accessibility, and Feel-Good Factor: The newly renovated building focuses on accessibility to reduce apprehension and enable broad societal participation.</p> <p>Architectural and financial openness: A light-filled foyer with seating invites you to linger, while a new ramp ensures physical accessibility. Weekly public tours are included with admission, and every Wednesday evening (5 PM to 8 PM), access is free for all.</p> <p>Cognitive Accessibility: Handouts in simple language explain central exhibition content in an easy-to-understand way and enable independent engagement with the exhibited works. Imagination Instead of Memory Pressure (Dementia Offering): A pioneering, inclusive format is aimed at people with dementia and their companions. Instead of often stressful memory pressure, a photograph serves as a springboard for free imagination. Participants jointly invent stories about the image. Since there is no «right or wrong,» deficits such as word-finding difficulties become irrelevant – the medium of photography becomes a connecting tool for the pure here and now.</p>
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