For almost a quarter of a century, Anja Niedringhaus (1965–2014) reported from areas of conflict around the globe – the Balkans, Iraq and her much beloved Afghanistan, where she was assassinated while on assignment on April 4, 2014. She left an impressive body of works. This first posthumous retrospective on the occasion of the 5th anniversary of her death comprises more than 80 large-scale photographs and shows why she was already an iconic figure during her lifetime.
Photographs calling for peace
Although Anja Niedringhaus worked in several wars, she refused to be called a ‘war photographer’. Her images, often taken at the front where she risked her own life, go far beyond the mere documentation of events – they are calling for peace. They are intended to galvanize and admonish by illustrating the horrors of war. Her works are strongly contrastive – a moment of tranquillity amidst complete chaos, and deeply felt humanity amidst brutal barbarity.
Anja Niedringhaus was awarded numerous accolades, among them the first Pulitzer Prize for a German female photographer in 2005. Her extensive body of work comprises crisis documentation as well as brilliant portraits and sports photography. For the first time, all the works shown at this Cologne exhibition are entirely in color.