Axel Hoedt shows in Memmingen: photographs between past and present

Axel Hoedt shows in Memmingen: photographs between past and present

The wait is finally over: The eagerly awaited exhibition “Axel Hoedt: ... and sometimes there is a wind in the trees” opens on Friday, November 14, 2025, at 7 p.m. in the MEWO Kunsthalle in Memmingen. Entry is free and the exhibition runs until March 8, 2026. On display are works by the extremely talented German photographer Axel Hoedt, who now lives in London and is known for his impressive photographs. Over the last three decades, Hoedt has demonstrated his skills and compiled a remarkable body of work that also includes unpublished abstract photographs, fashion shoots and impressive portraits.

With a good knack for visual stories, Axel Hoedt has always built a bridge between editorials and personal memories. Particularly noteworthy is his latest series “Cacti”, which is reminiscent of microscopic images of cell division. Discussions with the themes of foreignness and belonging can also be found in the series “Wish I heard voices”, which transforms “waste” from photographic production into fascinating abstract images. An emotional highlight of the exhibition is the “Eleonore” series, named after Hoedt’s late aunt, which links private memories with major contemporary history.

A look at Hoedt's art

Hoedt's best-known works show photographs of masks and mask wearers of the Alemannic carnival, which are deeply anchored in the traditions of his home region. The work addresses subtle questions about identity and cultural heritage. Hoedt collaborates with the experimental fashion designer JJ Hudson, who appears masked and uses second-hand materials. This collaboration critically examines the throwaway mentality of the fashion industry and gives the exhibition an additional dimension.

An exciting innovation awaits visitors: for the first time, fashion photos and portraits will be directly compared in the context of the exhibition. This comparison breaks with the usual serial structures and at the same time documents Hoedt's continuous artistic development and his search for new forms of expression.

An artist with tradition

Axel Hoedt was born in Staufen im Breisgau in 1966 and studied photo design at the Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences. He has lived and worked as a photographer in London since 1999 and has already received several prestigious awards, including the Gold Medal at the Lead Awards 2010 and the Otto Steinert Prize of the German Society for Photography in 2011. Hoedt's work has helped to shape the image of the young millennium.

With a fascinating mix of tradition and a modern understanding of art, Hoedt represents what contemporary photography is all about today. Where do you find the points that unite light and shadow? This is impressively visible in Hoedt's art. Anyone who has the opportunity to visit the MEWO Kunsthalle should not miss this opportunity.

At a time when photography is booming in both the digital and analogue sectors, Hoedt remains an outstanding example of how important it is to engage with the medium itself. While most photos in today's world are created digitally, Hoedt creates powerful memories that go beyond the mere image. It will be exciting to see how his work will captivate the audience in Memmingen.