WOLFGANG TILLMANS

Ausstellungsansicht im ehemaligen Speisesaal, Haus Hedwig von links nach rechts: Speisesaal: Wolfgang Tillmans, Grey Jeans over stairpost, 1991, Chromogenic Print, 30 x 40 cm, Ed. 6/10,1 AP; Paper drop, c-Print,2007, Kodak-Professional-Papier, 26,5 x 40,5 cm, Kestnergesellschaft Hrsg., ex.5/10; Paper Drop, Öl, 2011, Chromogenic Print, 30,5 x 40,6 cm, Ed. 6/10,1AP; „Evelene (post solar eclipse)“, 2017, inkjet print, framed, 85 x 68 x 3,2 cm, Ed. 1/3 +1 AP; „Market I“, 2012, inkjet print, framed, 32,9 x 43 x 2,2 cm, Ed. 7/10 + 1AP; “untitled (jam)”, 2003, c-print, framed, 30.5 x 40.6 cm, Ed. 1/10 + 1AP; „still life Three Colts Lane“, 2011, inkjet print, framed, 71 x 58 x 3,2 cm, Ed. 2/3 + 1 AP; „paper drop Oranienplatz, b”, 2017, inkjet print on paper, in artist’s frame, 145 x 211 x 6 cm, Ed. 1/1 + 1AP; Choir (Jubilate Deo), 1989-1994, c-print

In contrast to Isa Genzken, Photography as a medium of social reality increasingly recedes into the background in Tillmans’ work. While his early, almost iconic works were meetings and gatherings in clubs, at parties, and portraits of individuals, the tension between control and coincidence, intention and the liberating imponderables of the photographic medium later moved increasingly into focus. Groups of subjects such as “drapery”, “still life”, “free swimmer”, “paper drops” or “silver” refer to the autonomy of photographic representation. These groups of works displayed in the exhibition mainly according to the artist’s instructions provide an overview of his oeuvre and at the same time reflect the competing thematic focuses within it: the interaction of people in all its aspects and the exploration of the chemical basis of photography. He has received many international awards for his artistic work. In 2000, Tillmans was the first artist outside of Britain to win the Turner Prize. In 2016 he received the Hasselblad Award and in 2018 the Goslar Kaiserring. Tillmans also combines his artistic work with political commitment. In 2016 he became involved in his second home country, Great Britain, with a large-scale anti-brexit campaign, and for the 2017 federal elections he developed posters for a higher voter turnout and against right-wing nationalism. He also launched the social project “Between Bridges”, helping artists in need.

Wolfgang Tillmans was born in Remscheid in 1968. He lives and works in Berlin.

Wolfgang Tillmans, Market I, 2012, Inkjet Print, gerahmt, 30,5 x 40,6 cm, Edition 10 + 1 AP, © Foto: Ulrich Dohle