The photographic stories highlight the complexity of our globalized present in the context of climate change, territorial conflicts, and questions of identity. The exhibition offers perspectives from various regions of the world—always with a focus on individuals who, through courage, creativity, and solidarity, are forging new paths toward a meaningful and communal life.

The works sensitively explore the paradoxical beauty of acceptance in a world that often excludes and divides. They demonstrate that resistance takes many forms—from loud protest to quiet perseverance in everyday life.

Overview of the Works:

• Fragile as Glass by Sitara Ambrosio portrays the struggle of queer people in Ukraine for self-determination and safety—in the shadow of the Russian invasion.
• Uncertain Homelands by Nora Bibel addresses the global water crisis caused by climate change, highlighting the resilience of affected communities.
• Rui Camilo documents the lives of children with disabilities in Johannesburg, where exclusion due to a lack of accessibility is part of daily life.
• Niemandsland (No Man’s Land) by Daniel Chatard visualizes the lignite mining in the Rhineland—a destructive process that has sacrificed entire villages and landscapes.
• It’s my wound because it’s pain for me by Jana Islinger tells the story of the Armenian population, whose longing for peace contrasts with ongoing instability.
• With Beyond Binary, Jeannette Petri advocates for the dismantling of binary gender concepts, revealing the rich diversity of gender identity.
• In The Weather Report, Marzena Skubatz follows a weather observer in the Icelandic fjords—a quiet narrative about nature, human intervention, and the fragile beauty of the North.

Tracing the Possible will be on view from July 7 to October 5, 2025, at the Fondation Manuel Rodriga-Ortiz, 18 rue de la Calade, 13200 Arles, as part of the renowned photography festival Les Rencontres de la Photographie d’Arles. More information about the festival can be found at www.rencontres-arles.com.

Opening program:

Wednesday, July 9, 2025

• 11:00 am: laif curator: guided tour through our exhibition “Tracing the Possible”
• 17:30: laif vernissage begins
• 19:00: Official vernissage of the Manuel Rivera-Ortiz Foundation together with FREELENS

Thursday, July 10, 2025

• from 18:00: joint get-together laif x FREELENS

Friday, July 11, 2025

• from 11:00 am: Signing session with the laif photographers Sitara Ambrosio, Nora Bibel, Rui Camilo and Daniel Chatard
• 18:00: laif Artist Talk with Sitara Ambrosio and Daniel Chatard with media artist, curator and lecturer Marie Köhler about the role of photography in political resistance in the exhibition space of the Manuel Rivera-Ortiz Foundation.

Many thanks to our sponsors and partners: WhiteWall, piCta, pickablue, Fotohaus ParisBerlin, laif foundation and laif Genossenschaft.