Noorderlicht Photo Festival 2019: TAXED TO THE MAX
TAXED TO THE MAX, the 26th edition of the International Photography Festival of Noorderlicht, examines the societal tensions created by international conglomerates with their vast accumulations of capital and their influence on national and global politics. How does this affect the lives of regular people?
TAXED TO THE MAX deals with the increasing political weight and capital of trans- national corporations and the resulting pressure on political, public and private spheres. They are seemingly unshakeable strongholds with market shares exceeding the national budget of entire countries. To what extent are elected political bodies still sufficiently empowered to supervise or curtail the global transactions of business entities that are not bound by state borders and jurisdiction? And what role can and do citizens still play within these dynamics? TAXED TO THE MAX aims to foreground the narratives of ordinary people grappling with political and economic movements that remain largely invisible or out of reach, yet who are facing the direct consequences in their daily lives and are constantly asked to ‘do the right thing’. What happens to a person and their individuality at a time when surveillance economies and management of the masses are the directing forces?
Mentorship young curators
A new Noorderlicht initiative is a mentorship for young curators who, based on the theme of the open call, are invited to curate an exhibition that will flank the festival.