200 Years and Counting . Zum Jubiläum der Fotografie

On August 22, during World Photography Day week, C/O Berlin will celebrate the200th anniversary of photographywith a full day of events. Together with guests from the fields of art, photography, and media studies, we will explore the history and future of the medium: How is our understanding of images changing in an era shaped by artificial intelligence, digital infrastructures, and a flood of images?

In the context of the exhibition*The Lure of the Image*, the program explores the impact of AI on photography, visual culture, and society—from its history and relationship to photography to its ecological footprint.

Program

12:30
Welcomeby Sophia Greiff, Curator and Co-Program Director, C/O Berlin
Language: English

1:00–2:00 p.m.
Keynote
The Metabolic Logic of AI Slop
Kate Crawford . AI researcher and professor, University of Southern California 
Welcome RemarksBoaz Levin . Curator and Co-Program Director, C/O Berlin
Language: English

1:00 p.m. (DE) / 2:00 p.m. (EN) / 3:00 p.m. (DE) / 4:00 p.m. (EN) 
Express Tours 
The Lure of the Image + Walter Schels . 16° Fische

3:00 PM–4:30 PM
Panel Discussion
Looking Back
Michelle Henning . Artist and Professor of Photography and Media, University of Liverpool / Susanne Kriemann . Artist and Professor / Ryan S. Jeffery . Filmmaker and ArtistModerator: Steffen Siegel . Professor of Theory and History of Photography, Folkwang University of the Arts
Language: English

5:00–6:30 p.m.
Panel Discussion
Looking Forward
Florian Ebner . Chief Curator of the Photography Collection at the Centre Pompidou, Paris / Annekathrin Kohout . Freelance writer and cultural studies scholar / Armin Linke . Artist
Moderator: Anika Meier . Writer and curator
Language: German

Workshop
Adversarial Acts: Subversive Artistic Practices with AI
Bruce Eesly . Artist
Language: English

9:00 PM–11:00 PM
Open-Air Short Film Program 
Bruce Eesly: Endangered Gestures (2026), 5 min.
Daphné Nan Le Sergent: Silicon Islands and War (2025), 37 min.
Gala Hernández López: Like Moths to Light (2026), 26 min.
Ryan S. Jeffery: An Engineer / Not a Camera (2025), 12 min.

EN

 

C/O Berlin will celebrate the bicentennial of photography on August 22, during the week ofWorld Photography Day, with an all-day program of events. Together with guests from the fields of art, photography, and media studies, we will examine the history and future of the medium: How is our understanding of images changing in an era shaped by artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, and a flood of images?

In the context of the exhibition*The Lure of the Image*, the program explores the impact of AI on photography, image culture, and society—from its history and its relationship to photography to its ecological footprint.

PROGRAM

12:30
Welcome
Sophia Greiff . Curator and Co-Head of Program, C/O Berlin
Language: English

1:00–2:00 p.m.
Keynote
The Metabolic Logic of AI Slop
Kate Crawford . Leading scholar of AI / Professor, University of Southern California 
Welcome BoazLevin . Curator and Co-Head of Program, C/O Berlin
Language: English

1:00 p.m. (DE) / 2:00 p.m. (EN) / 3:00 p.m. (DE) / 4:00 p.m. (EN)
Express Guided Tours
The Lure of the Image + Walter Schels . 16° Fische

3:00 PM–4:30 PM
Panel Discussion
Looking Back
Michelle Henning . Professor of Photography and Media, University of Liverpool, UK / Susanne Kriemann . Artist and Professor, Karlsruhe University of Arts and Design / Ryan S. Jeffery . Filmmaker and Artist 
Moderator: SteffenSiegel . Professor of Theory and History of Photography, Folkwang University of the Arts
Language: English

5:00–6:30 p.m.
Panel Discussion
Looking Forward
Florian Ebner . Chief Curator of the Centre Pompidou’s Cabinet of Photography / Annekathrin Kohout . Freelance Writer and Cultural Scientist / Armin Linke . Artist
Moderator: Anika Meier, Writer and Curator
Language: German

Workshop
Adversarial Acts: Subversive Artistic Practices with AI
Bruce Eesly . Artist
Language: English

9:00 PM–11:00 PM
Open-Air Film Screening 
Bruce Eesly:Endangered Gestures (2026), 5 min.
Daphné Nan Le Sergent:Silicon Islands and War (2025), 37 min.
Gala Hernández López:Like Moths to Light (2026), 26 min.
Ryan S. Jeffery:An Engineer / Not a Camera (2025), 12 min.