Feriel Bendjama examines in Tracing Roots the complex origins of her family and the ongoing process of rooting. The multi-part exhibition provides an insight into the diasporic life of a family between Algeria, the GDR and West Germany.

The first part of the exhibition focuses on old family photographs. Feriel Bendjama collected old private Polaroids, re-photographed them, edited them, enlarged them and arranged them in a new context. The photographs, most of which date from the 1980s, document life between three worlds. Color shots show typical everyday scenes such as family reunions, parties, trips and children. The photos address aspects of remembering, nostalgic feelings and are an image of lived cultural diversity.

The second part is dedicated to landscape photographs and fleeting snapshots from Algeria, which Feriel Bendjama photographed during her travels. Bendjama photographed the landscapes that rushed past her from the car as she drove past. The photographs reflect the fluidity of rooting.

Feriel Bendjama's works deal with various issues such as the perception of hybrid identities, the fragility of interpersonal relationships and one's own definition of belonging.

Feriel Bendjamas was born near Dresden in 1980. She grew up between Offenbach am Main and Algeria and has lived in Berlin since 2003. Current focal points of her photo and video works are cultural and religious identities.

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