Thomas Billhardt: Die Augen weit offen

Fotografiska Berlin, Oranienburger Straße 54, 10117, Berlin

August 28, 2026 – February 7, 2027

Die Augen weit offen (“Eyes Wide Open”) showcases key series from several decades, with a focus on the years from 1959 to 1972, illustrating the vast range and international scale of his work. Even in the 1960s, an era often viewed in retrospect as hermetically sealed, Billhardt traveled the world as a photojournalist covering global flashpoints. Following the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, he worked for UNICEF, among other organizations, documenting various aid projects across Asia. Throughout his life, he walked a fine line: On one hand, he stayed close enough to the authorities to continue working; on the other, he maintained his independence, that shaped his humanistic approach to photography.