In a world in which information is disseminated in no time across the globe via digital highways, the built and tarred roads appear as historical relics of a bygone era. What do roads tell us of the civilisation of those who constructed them? A road is a symbol of movement and progress, but also of flight and escape. It evokes dreams and projects an alternative, better life. Movement on a road signifies prosperity, development, and liberty in a democratised world.


This book explores the basic principles of human thinking and acting that underlie the concept of the road, both from the vantage point of the history of ideas and in terms of its gradual transformation on a virtual level. The artists represented in the exhibition use photography and video to investigate the motif of the road and its relevance to the pressing challenges of our society, such as the issue of migrants and refugees, the global ecological impact of a mobile society, or the fact that all of us are becoming the object of omnipresent video surveillance, especially on roads and highways.


Artists: Sue Barr, Thomas Bayrle, Julius Brauckmann, James Bridle, Ingrid Burrington, Emma Charles, Frauke Dannert, Hans Gremmen, Uschi Huber, Taiyo Onorato & Nico Krebs, Catherine Opie, Kathy Prendergast, Hans-Christian Schink, Henrik Spohler, Katja Stuke & Oliver Sieber, Clement Valla, Mels Van Zutphen.


Text in English and German.