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Der Greif Studio x Das Tegernsee
Photography as a Catalyst for Reflection and Dialogue in Hospitality Spaces
During the European Entrepreneurs Forum (EEF) at the renowned 5-star hotel Das Tegernsee in Bavaria, Southern Germany, Der Greif Studio activated the hotel rooms through a unique artistic intervention - integrating photography as a medium for reflection and dialogue.
Curated photographic prints were thoughtfully placed for conference attendees to discover - on pillows, propped on nightstands, windowsills, or mirrors - creating unexpected moments of contemplation and connection, offering a pause for quiet reflection amidst the otherwise high-energy conference.
The images were selected via a Der Greif open call, inviting photographers worldwide to respond to the theme “Visions for Europe”. Submissions explored critical ideas around democracy, innovation, and the resilience required for our collective future. The result: a set of powerful, poetic photographic perspectives that encouraged guests not only to reflect on their personal print, but also to engage in conversation and exchange with fellow participants - fostering a sense of shared purpose and cultural curiosity.
The curatorial statement:
"Europe, and indeed the world, stands on the threshold of transformation. These photographs, carefully selected through an international open call by Der Greif, each offer a distinct lens on democracy, innovation, and the resilience required for our shared future. By encountering these images in the privacy of your room, we invite you not only to reflect on the themes they illuminate, but also to discover the parallel visions captured in the other nine photographs distributed among fellow attendees. A single image can spark a thought, but when exchanged, discussed, or contemplated alongside others, it can spark a movement."
The Artists: Ten international image makers from our community
Through an open call, we selected artworks by ten international artists from our community: Franciska Legát, Maria Mavropoulou, Gil Bartz, Ira Lupu, Joseph Horton, Tim Gassauer, Farren van Wyk, Panos Charalampidis & Mary Chairetaki, Karol Szymkowiak and Jana Islinger.
Each artist brought a unique perspective to themes of democracy, identity, memory, and transformation – offering poignant reflections on Europe’s past, present, and potential futures.
Our approach demonstrates the subtle power of photography to shape hospitality experiences – providing guests not just with visuals, but with invitations to think, feel, connect and take home with. By encountering these works in the personal setting of their private hotel rooms, participants were drawn into a shared, contemplative space that transcended the usual dynamics of conference interactions.
Franciska Legát (*1997 in Budapest) explores the absurd and the socially charged through staged photographs infused with black humor. By blurring the line between fiction and documentary, her work reflects on personal and collective contradictions, offering an unconventional lens on contemporary life.
Maria Mavropoulou (*1989 in Athens) investigates the digital condition through photography and new media. Working with screen captures, AI, and VR, she examines how technology alters perception and identity, creating images that mirror our entanglement with algorithmic systems and virtual environments.
Gil Bartz (*1981 in Braunschweig) approaches photography as a long-form engagement with geopolitical and environmental realities. Rooted in documentary practice, his work traces contemporary crises—from migration to climate change—while seeking quiet visual narratives within turbulent contexts.
Ira Lupu (*1990 in Odesa) visualizes the invisible aftermath of war, trauma, and dislocation in Ukraine. Combining forensic attention with dreamlike imagery, her practice reveals the emotional and psychological layers of conflict, emphasizing intimacy, vulnerability, and resilience.
Joseph Horton (*1990 in Bristol) explores the interrelation of nature, culture, and identity in the Anthropocene. Through long-term, landscape-driven projects, he reflects on how human presence inscribes itself onto terrain, and how landscapes, in turn, shape collective memory.
Tim Gassauer (*1997 in Nordhausen) works between photography and research, examining collective memory and national identity. His images reflect on how histories are remembered—or forgotten—within public spaces, challenging dominant narratives through a conceptual, documentary lens.
Farren van Wyk (*1993 in South Africa) engages with postcolonial memory and dual identity through analogue photography. Her long-term projects address generational trauma, family, and belonging, grounding political questions in intimate, collaborative portrayals.
Panos Charalampidis & Mary Chairetaki (based in Crete) work as a duo on long-term photographic projects that unfold through immersion, observation, and trust. Their collaborative approach uses photography as a method of inquiry into place, memory, and human connection.
Karol Szymkowiak (*1983 in Poznań) finds surrealism within the documentary form. Engaging with themes like environmental anxiety and social stasis, his work probes the visual absurdities of the everyday. He also teaches, curates, and explores the photobook as a conceptual object.
Jana Islinger (*1999 in Munich) addresses geopolitical and social dynamics through research-based documentary photography. Her long-term projects focus on marginalised voices and structural power, drawing global connections through intimate and locally rooted narratives.
The works were printed on Gmund Colors Matt 99, 300 g/m², with kind support from Gmund Paper.