ISSP 2019 Publication - Photography and the World

Lars: I find it problematic that within our field there
is such a lack of funding. Everybody applies for
the same scholarships, residencies and grants.
This creates such a competitive culture, and then
we all get together at events like this and talk
about how things work inside our bubble – but
there are so many completely different ways to go.
And I am much more interested in those alternatives
that also work when you are fine with a more
modest lifestyle. For example, in a way, getting
unemployment from the state is like a scholarship.
If you know the system, you can go on welfare,
and if that’s not stressing you too much than you
can live your life and do your stuff without needing
to apply for money from organizations.
Constanze: I think that’s fair enough. If we don’t get
financial compensation for contributing to society
with our practice, why shouldn’t the state enable us
to do our work?
There should be some sort of social credit system,
where you get benefits for unpaid social work.
Yes, and without all the constraints that are usually
put on unemployment, like required documentation
and proof.
The problem is that most people are too afraid to
consider that option because of all those requirements,
but you just need to do your research,
then it’s really easy. Many look down on people
who are receiving welfare, but if you just say “Fuck
it, I don’t care about that, I just want to do my stuff.”
then it’s a valid way to go. So many people talk
about where to get funding for their projects, but
this is also an option and it is just one of many.
The appreciation for the kind of work that we do
is very limited in mainstream society. It’s the same
with nursery-school teachers, caretakers and so on.
People who work with human values are constantly
being underpaid, while other people might work
for example in finance and juggle huge amounts of
money and crash entire economies – and they even
get rewarded for that! Don’t get me wrong, I’m fine
with living on a low level, economically speaking.
From an ethical point of view I wouldn’t even want
to be in a different situation.
Me too, I think it is great to have little. I mean,
we have our time and how is that not the biggest
luxury? Quite a while back I was a real
workaholic, working ten to twelve hours every
day. For ten years. And then I finally arrived at
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Do you have a charger?