The photographs by the award-winning Canadian artist Jonathan Hobin have been adorning the covers of countless international magazines for many years now. The Canadian often finds the inspiration for his work from fairy tales, cinematic works and historical events, which he then links to references from popular culture.
His so far most famous pieces include the “In the Playroom” series published in 2010, which shows children in the leading roles of media melodramas and tragedies of our time. As Hobin aptly states: “The idea that kids are carefree is a false one... It is really children who carry the weight of our world.” Right from the start, the very unambiguous and provoking imagery of “In the Playroom” triggered a wave of media indignation and criticism, whilst also inviting public discourse. After all, these pictures, their history, the type of presentation and the striking imagery fascinate, at the same time as unsettling the beholder.
Hobin deliberately asks the question of what happens when children are inspired by pictures from the news when they are playing. After all, we are living in a time in which the media shapes our perception of the world more than ever before and more or less manipulate many of our decisions and actions./span>
Location // Sendlinger-Tor-Platz, 80331 Munich
Duration // 01. – 15. February, 2015