In an era increasingly shaped by blurred boundaries between reality and fiction, Tactics and Mythologies invites visitors to navigate the hybrid space between documentation and illusion, truth and narrative construction. The exhibition, presented in partnership with Deichtorhallen Hamburg, explores the visual strategies of contemporary myth-making and disinformation in digital image cultures.
With their analytical and poetic approach, the New York-based artist duo Andrea Orejarena & Caleb Stein examine how images are circulated, interpreted, and manipulated in our algorithmic age. The exhibition reflects on how collective imaginaries are formed through viral content, humor, fear, and fictional storytelling. Their work prompts visitors to question the constructed nature of what we see and believe.
The exhibition centers around the project American Glitch (2020–2024), which explores the intersection of documentary photography and fiction. Over a period of four years, the artists created an archive of over 2,000 photographs, altered visuals, and AI-generated images—many of which originate in online spaces shaped by a wide range of narrative forms, including conspiracy theories, disinformation, constructed fictions, simulated truths, and American mythologies. These image cultures—circulating in forums, online archives, and visual platforms—reflect how the perception of reality is increasingly shaped by layered, performative, and often contradictory storytelling.
Additionally, the exhibition features a multi-channel video installation that immerses visitors in the aesthetics of glitch culture and digital image disruption. Two projected channels present pixelated GIF animations, while a third screen explores "glitches in real life"—distorted moments that suggest a breakdown in the visual fabric of reality. These elements are brought together in a disorienting composition that challenges viewers’ perception and perceptual stability.
The exhibition was conceived and produced by Nadine Isabelle Henrich, Curator of the House of Photography, Deichtorhallen Hamburg and is being presented in Switzerland in an adapted form thanks to the support of the Guggenheim Foundation (TBC). The project was made possible thanks to the support of Alexander Tutsek Stiftung, Tavolozza Foundation, Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation, Alfried Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach-Stiftung, Alfred Toepfer Stiftung F.V.S, Palo Gallery New York; Vin Gallery, Förderkreis Deichtorhallen Hamburg, Körber Stiftung and Deichtorhallen Freundeskreis des Hauses der Photographie Hamburg.
About the Curator
Nadine Isabelle Henrich is the curator of the House of Photography, Deichtorhallen Hamburg. Her curatorial focus lies in networked image cultures, visual literacy, and transdisciplinary approaches to photography. With Tactics and Mythologies, she initiated the series Viral Hallucinations, exploring the relationship between documentary practices, images cultures online and disinformation in the digital age. Viral Hallucinations is a ongoing exhibition and discourse program, running 2024- 2027.
