With the works of Cao Fei, Richard Mosse and Paulo Nazareth, the exhibition EXTREME. NOMADS at MMK 1 focuses on different aspects of contemporary forms of nomadic existence and addresses the dissolution of boundaries in politics, economy, society, and culture. The artists from three continents are not only investigating the individual, social and political extremes that are a result of globalisation, but also their own artistic strategies move across and alongside these boundaries.

The image defines the reality of our life day in and day out. With the theme EXTREME the photo triennial RAY 2018 accounts for this power of the image with a multitude of international artists’ positions. For decades, the institutions and collections in Frankfurt/RheinMain have shown an outstanding focus andcompetence in the field of photography. After the first two successful editions RAY 2012 and RAY 2015 this unique quality and versatility is presented with a unique constellation: Over 40 artists, 15 partner institutions, 10 exhibition venues and 6 cities in the Rhine/Main region put this focus in the international spotlight. With exhibitions, a multitude of events and — for the first time — a four-day festival dedicated to the Triennial theme EXTREME, RAY offers yet another summer of photographic highlights.

In her works, Cao Fei processes the profound social changes that occurred in her homeland China as a result of rapid economic growth and globalisation. Inspired by the US-American zombie films, the artist presents her work Haze and Fog. This is a fictional portrayal of a service-based society that is suffering from a loss of identity and transforms one of the newly built residential areas on the threshold of Beijing into a hoard of restless zombies.

Richard Mosse’s works are a cross between artistic production and journalistic reportage. His most recent works Heat Maps and Incoming are a direct response to the humanitarian crisis, that resulted from the latest waves of refugees in the Middle East, North Africa and Europe. With the help of a video camera developed for military purposes that can measure thermal radiation over a distance of 30 kilometres, Mosse condenses two of the most dangerous and most frequented refugee routes in the world into a mesmerizing, reflective film about the situation of these people.

Paulo Nazareth declared walking as the starting point of his artistic approach. Taking his heritage as a Brazilian with Indigenous and African roots as a theme, he crosses entire countries and continents on foot. Nazareth’s works tell a tale of his encounters and many experiences from his travels; of communication and resistance, of colonial history and the presence of globalism. They weave a web between individuals, communities, and countries beyond their national borders.