Francesca Hummler

*1997 US/DE, based in London (UK) and San Diego (USA)

Exhibition

GEN Z: SHAPING A NEW GAZE

Duration: May 9–August 30, 2026

Gen Z, one generation, countless perspectives: the exhibition presents works by over 40 photographers from 25 countries born between the 1990s and 2010. Their works reflect experiences shaped by digital worlds, social change and global crises. Across four thematic sections, the exhibition offers insights into the realities, concerns and aspirations of young people. Themes such as identity, belonging, the body and gender are explored creatively, questioned and reimagined through new forms of self-understanding.

Exhibited works:

Das Badezimmer, 2021

Victory, 2021

Der Stammbaum, 2021

from the series “Unsere Puppenstube”

“Drawing from my experience as the daughter of German immigrants in the United States, I use my work to investigate the psychological reception of social labels, postmemory, and the ways trauma is passed down through generations, not just through the archive, but within the body itself.

“Unsere Puppenstube [Our Dollhouse] reflects on the complexities of identity and belonging, especially for those with multiple histories. My sister and I use the dollhouse, a family heirloom, as a symbol of her rightful place within our family’s generational memory, despite external challenges. The series explores themes of adoption, racial identity, and emotional connection, inviting viewers to reflect on how we navigate the labels we ascribe to relationships and identities in social settings.

To me, belonging means feeling safe enough to explore what brings you joy and fuels your curiosity. It’s the freedom to express your emotions and have someone respond with, ‘I see you.’ It’s about being accepted in your entirety, without judgment, without conditions.

Through my photography, I explore self and identity, capturing the complexities of those with fractured identities, whether cultural or otherwise, and the ways they navigate belonging in the spaces between. My photography itself is the space where I belong, the place I go when I feel disjointed from reality. It anchors me, helping me avoid disassociation and reconnect with myself and those around me.”