The literal translation of Horace’s eponymous proverb is ‘seize the day’, which means: savour the day and put as little trust in the following one as possible. In our exhibition, we relate this ‘seizing’ to the moment we press the button to capture a special moment – a unique moment – that we still remember well, even after more than 40 years. These are the pictures that still touch us: Siblings from 1979 shows the same holding their breath while their picture is being taken; the last cup of coffee paid in GDR marks in 1990; an encounter with Willy Brandt in October 1990.

The exhibition, curated by Angelika Euchner, Michael Lüder and Mathias Marx, brings together 14 photographers in their 60s who have also incorporated aspects of aging, dying and death in these special moments. If they’ve chosen the transience of Polaroid, the reference is also a formal one: Carpe diem, enjoy consciously, because you are mortal.