Concept
Since 1990, over 200 people have died due to right-wing violence in Germany—200 fates that often disappear from our collective memory. »Rechtes Land« documents the crime scenes of these heinous acts, confronting the persistent presence of right-wing extremism in the country and creating a hitherto unique visual catalogue in the process. In large-format photographs, these empty stages are captured in their eerie banality and are paired with texts that restore the victims' stories. This growing archive serves as an urgent index of right-wing extremist violence, challenging us to remember, reflect, and resist.
In 2025, the far-right AfD emerged as Germany’s second-strongest party. Right-wing ideas and violence are once again permeating society. If photography has a vital role, it is indeed to make sure we remember all those whose lives are wrecked by intolerance, hatred, and violence. Looking forward means confronting the past—let us stand against hate.
Vita
Julius Schien came to photography in his late 20s and is studying documentary photography at the Hanover University of Applied Sciences and Arts.
In his photography, he is primarily looking for answers to the question of what it means to confront Germany’s political legacy and the country’s right-wing continuity. In doing so, he aims to highlight long-forgotten stories of right-wing violence that lie beneath the surface of everyday life in seemingly somber landscapes and city portraits. His works are created on analog large format.
Since 2021, he has been working on the research and subsequently realization of his long-term project »Rechtes Land«, in which he aims to document every single place where people have died through acts of right-wing violence since the German reunification.
The work was given an Honorable Mention in the Swiss »TruePicture« funding program in 2023 and was awarded »Best Portfolio 2024« at the Open Portfolio Walk at Deichtorhallen Hamburg.
He is a selected artist by the Triennial of Photography in Hamburg for the European photography platform FUTURES.
Julius lives and works in Hanover, Germany.