“tinder. meet dates and friends in Ukraine”.
A photography project by Volker Kreidler in the context of the European Month of Photography (EMOP).

Exhibition opening: 16.03.23 at 6.30 pm.

Artist Talk: am 01.04.2023 um 15.45 Uhr
mit Sascha Britsko (Journalistin) und Volker Kreidler
und „…HERE!“ Interactive Dance Installation
by Company STEVE (15.00 und 16.30 Uhr).

With a performative intervention by Company STEVE: “The Impact of Social Media.”
The dance company STEVE is sharing parts of their movement research about how the consumption of social media can influence our actions, our state of being and our relationships.
Conzept: Verena Steffen und Sinja J. Völl. Performance: Annekatrin Kiesel, Bianca Dakli, Sinja J. Völl.

Opening hours: 17.03.- 02.04.23 Wednesday to Saturday, 15.00 to 18.00.

For many years, the projects of photographer Volker Kreidler have dealt with the social upheavals in the post-Soviet space. Emigration has been particularly high in Ukraine since the collapse of the USSR. The war in the Donbas since 2014 and Russia’s war of aggression since February 2022 have further dramatically exacerbated the situation.

The project “tinder” is a photographic research on various dating portals in Ukraine. Basically, it is about the real personality that shows itself behind the self-presentation on these portals. The reasons why someone shows up there and searches are as complex as the people who meet there. The method of contacting people for the project is in accordance with the regulations on these platforms, i.e. there will only be a photo session if a real date has taken place.

The project started in 2019 and was interrupted during the pandemic. After the Russian war of aggression began, there was initially no thought of continuing. However, despite the extreme situation in Ukraine, contacts have been made and the photographer has decided to continue the project. The stories are of course completely different now than before the war. Many women are no longer in their home towns, some have fled as domestic refugees in western Ukraine or some have fled to Europe.

Volker Kreidler, born 1962 in Baden-Württemberg, has lived in Berlin since 2000.
Education 1980-1983, photographer’s apprenticeship in his parents’ business. 1988-1994 photo design, FH Dortmund.
Scholarships: 2022 Stiftung Kunstfonds – NEUSTART KULTUR scholarship. 2020 ISSP Riga Residency. 2013 Grant from the Kulturwerk Foundation of VG Bildkunst for the project.
Battlefield Topographies. Artist residency: 2018 Nida Art Colony, Lithuania.

Exhibitions + exhibition participations (selection):
2022 “Birds” Kaunas – European Capital of Culture. 2021 Inventing Nature, Kunsthalle Karlsruhe. 2021 Ostrale Biennale for Contemporary Art Dresden, series Birds. 2021 Kazakhstan – Revisited National Museum
Kazakhstan, Nur-Sultan. 2020 Zooming Europe / Taxonomy Moldova October – November at CLB-Berlin on the occasion of EMOP / European Month of Photography. 2020 Third Landscape, group exhibition at Kunsthaus Dresden. 2019 Taxonomy Moldova, solo exhibition, Colegiul Republican de Arte, Chisinau. 2018, The 3rd Space, group exhibition, Ars Electronica Festival Linz. 2017 Third Landscape, solo exhibition at Drive Volkswagen Group Forum Berlin. 2016 America, Übersee Museum, Bremen. 2014 6th Month of Photography 2014 (MdF): The History of the Other, InteriorDAsein, Berlin. 2013 Drive East, Volkswagen Forum, Berlin. 2012/13 Russians & Germans. 1000 Years of Art, History and Culture: Battlefield Topographies I, Neues Museum – Staatliche Museen zu Berlin. 2012 Russkij Standard, Zagreus Projekt, Berlin 2011. Grenze, Galerie Kvant, Berlin. uvm.