This exhibition is not only about the family history of a photographer, but also a deeper journey that invites us to explore memory, beliefs and transgenerational processes.
Emőke’s photographs reveal the preserved historical layers and traces of Transylvanian landscapes, where snow is not only an aesthetic element but also carries a deeper message. The presence of snow in the landscape symbolises the hidden secrets of the past.
The white, empty landscapes are a reminder not only of our losses, but also of how memory is often selective and unreliable, often distorting, highlighting or even obscuring, constantly shaping and reinterpreting the past.
In his work, this concept reflects not only the artist’s personal past but also the broader aspects of collective memory, so that the white landscapes function as a kind of visual expression on multiple levels in the processing of memory and history.
Throughout the project Kerekes talks about his own working-class peasant roots, his uncle, grandfather, father and other members of his family. Through their tragedies, they represent not only him but also the history of 20th century Eastern Europe. Name-changing, childhood memories and tragedies suppressed by adults are all part of this complex, transgenerational visual narrative.
Kerekes’ images show how the past lives on and how family stories influence our present.