A night of two chapters: James Nachtwey – War | And What Remains

“As difficult as these images are to look at, injustice and violence cannot be portrayed truthfully without being disturbing.”
James Nachtwey

Photography in Power: War Photographer James Nachtwey

What happens when the camera doesn’t soften, filter, or offer a comfortable distance? When an image refuses to let us look away, but also refuses to let us forget?

As part of Fotografiska’s major summer exhibition Photography in Power: Making Worlds Visible one of the most influential war photographers of our time, James Nachtwey, comes to Tallinn.

Over decades spent working in the world’s most difficult conflict zones, Nachtwey has captured moments that are both unbearable and essential, stories of war, loss, and human resilience, without embellishment or compromise.

His unflinching images force us to confront realities we often prefer not to see, while giving a voice to those who might otherwise go unheard. Sometimes, truly seeing demands more than we are ready for. How much are we willing to face and what does it really mean to see?

May 27 An Evening with James Nachtwey

On May 27, Nachtwey will share an honest and unfiltered perspective on war photography, including his work documenting the war in Ukraine.

His presentation will take place in a darkened room – stripped of distractions – leaving only the images, the stories, and what they awaken in us. We will see photographs from wars that have already become history, as well as those that continue, including Ukraine, still ongoing.

What Remains

Despite everything, Ukrainian culture and its people endure.

The second part of the evening is dedicated to Ukraine. Following Nachtwey’s presentation, Ruslan Trochynskyi will lead the audience to the Fotografiska courtyard with trombone and jaw harp, where the evening continues with Ukrainian culture, food, and music.

In collaboration with NAFO Estonia, the event will also support Ukrainian defenders. Donations will be collected toward the purchase of a medical evacuation vehicle, a critical resource for safely transporting the wounded from the front lines. As a token of appreciation, donors will have the opportunity to receive limited-edition artworks.

Throughout the evening, volunteers will also share firsthand, and at times vividly told, stories from their journeys between Tallinn and Kyiv. Speakers include Kristo-Enn Vaga, Anna-Liisa Palatu, and others.

For Families

There will also be activities for children. Together with Ukrainian-born Estonian artist Jarõna Ilo, children can explore the world of color mixing, regardless of age. Having led color therapy workshops in Ukraine for years, Ilo encourages creativity and emotional expression through color.

PS: The program is still being updated.

James Nachtwey

James Nachtwey (b. 1948) is one of the world’s most influential photojournalists, with a career spanning more than four decades. He has documented wars and crises across the globe, from Central America in the 1980s to the Balkans, the Middle East, and the war in Ukraine.

His work has been published in Time, National Geographic, and Newsweek, and he has received numerous prestigious awards, including the Robert Capa Gold Medal and World Press Photo honors. A member of Magnum Photos, Nachtwey is known for his direct and powerful visual language, revealing the human dimension of war and violence.

Fotografiska Tallinn previously presented his retrospective “Memoria” from November 2019 to March 2020.

Photography in Power: Making Worlds Visible, group exhibition, 6 May – 13 September

The exhibition brings together 127 photographers whose work has shaped how we see, interpret, and perceive the world today – among them Helmut Newton, Robert Mapplethorpe, Richard Avedon, Alison Jackson, and David LaChapelle.

The exhibition marks Fotografiska Tallinn’s 7th anniversary and highlights artists who have been part of Fotografiska’s exhibition programme over the years – both internationally and in Tallinn.