Intimate portraits, everyday scenes, and documentary images – the historical photographs and audio recordings of Hans Heinrich Brüning (1848–1928) continue to resonate strongly in Peru today, opening new perspectives on identity, memory, and cultural self-determination. The collection of the German amateur researcher was created during his 50-year residence in the Lambayeque region, where he passionately documented the life and culture of the local people.
The exhibition engages with reinterpretations by local actors, scholars, and artists who transform these historical documents from a colonial-shaped past into living archives. Alternative readings from Afro-Peruvian or queer perspectives are included, as well as exhibition-specific works such as the photographic ceramic portraits by Enzo Miguel Matute and the embroidered interventions by Marystela Camacho, both artists from northern Peru.
In collaboration with Dr. Gisela Cánepa-Koch (PUC, Peru) and Dr. Walther Maradiegue (University of Bonn), the exhibition highlights processes of cultural reappropriation that go beyond the boundaries of the museum archive. Especially in the digital age, new opportunities for engagement and democratic participation arise when local communities use and develop historical photos and music online. The collaborative exhibition demonstrates how working with Brüning’s archive fosters social connections and generates resonance across generations and geographic boundaries.
In collaboration with Prof. Gisela Cánepa-Koch (PUC, Peru) and Dr Walther Maradiegue (University of Bonn). The exhibition is taking place as part of the 9th Hamburg Photography Triennial 2026. Funded by the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, Department of Culture and Media.