(Dis)Orderly
by Ralph Steinegger

In this exhibition we invite you to discover the work of a photographer whose journey began in the neat and orderly suburbs of Zurich/Switzerland. Ralph's early interest in maps and stories of explorers has instilled in him a curiosity for the wider world and an urge to venture beyond conventional paths, which defines him as a person, but also shapes his approach to photography. 

 

His first journey outside of Europe took him to Cairo, where he spent an extended period of time in the Egyptian capital and was fascinated by the sheer size of the city and the urban chaos. It was a transformative experience in the sense that he found his lifelong subject matter in the urban landscapes of the fast-growing mega cities of this world, particularly their continuous transformation and inherent contradictions. 

 

We follow the photographer on a visual journey to near and distant places, hidden and neglected sites, from backyards and dead ends to car parks and exit roads, always on the lookout for order in disorder and scenes of ambiguity. While his images often lack a visible human presence, they document the spaces we choose to inhabit and the environment we shape. Ralph is fascinated by the adaptability of the human species, our ability to find comfort in the most inhospitable conditions, and to make almost any place feel like home.

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