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20/4/2012

Anton Corbijn

Camera Work Gallery, Berlin

Camera Work is pleased to present an exhibition of Dutch photographer Anton Corbijn opening on April 21, 2012. Titled "Inwards and Onwards", the exhibition will show an extensive selection of impressive photographic portraits of eminent figures in the world of art, music and fashion.

The large-format portraits featured in the exhibition "Inwards and Onwards" testify to the substantial body of artistic work that Anton Corbijn has created. Apart from striking photographs of true music legends such as Bruce Springsteen, Patti Smith or Tom Waits, who have always fascinated Corbijn, the photographer has focussed in his recent work on modern personifications of artistic inspiration such as Marlene Dumas, Gilbert & George or Jeff Koons. Working only in black and white with a Hasselblad camera, Anton Corbijn aims to reduce his photo shoots to the essential. He uses his subjects’ familiar environments as settings and works on his own with available light – assistants or artificial lighting are off-limits for him. Corbijn understands the camera as a means to an end – ultimately, he tries to capture the personality and the character hidden deep within the person portrayed beyond any kind of superficial staging although some playfulness is sometimes apparent as with Damien Hirst’s photograph and that of Jeff Koons.

This unique visual experience can also be found in the unconventional portrait of Gerhard Richter, who not only because of his profession is fully aware of the possibilities that the photographic medium offers for self-dramatization. Anton Corbijn shows the artist with his back turned, thus granting the subject his wish for personal intimacy while at the same time reflecting on his creative work – after all, the people portrayed in Richter’s works often have their backs turned on the viewer or are blurred beyond recognition. The late painter Lucien Freud, who passed away in 2011, was another one of the artists who not only let Anton Corbijn enter his private space, but who also allowed him a glimpse of his character. The gesture and the portrayal of personality that define the picture as well as the palpable atmosphere of the photograph are the result of Anton Corbijn’s unique approach to his subjects. This approach allows Corbijn to picture layers of personality hidden behind enactments and facades that can only be elicited by art.

The photographs offer fascinating insights into singular personalities, as exemplified in the portrait of Kate Moss, whose mask creates a paradox: while destroying the model persona created by the media and calling attention to the real person rather than the construct, it also works as a symbol for the interplay between the sacrifice of privacy and its protection. Other images shown in the exhibition, such as the portrait of Anthony Kiedis, play with the appeal of the serious surreal. Anton Corbijn’s photographs attest to the self-analysis of the portrayed and make it visible, while at the same time captivating the viewer with their appealing imagery and their seemingly abstract scenarios, in which the figures depicted allow an intimate glimpse into their personalities: "Inwards and Onwards".

Anton Corbijn
Anton Corbijn, born on May 20, 1955, in the Dutch village of Strijen, developed a passion for portraying musicians and following them with his photo camera in the 1970s. As a "silent member" of the music groups, he went on to shape the image of bands such as Depeche Mode, Joy Division, New Order and U2 as their photographer and and sometimes as art director and stage designer. His close ties with the music industry in combination with his artistic potential allowed Anton Corbijn to find ways of expression beyond photography. Since the 1980s, he has directed numerous music videos of the most successful musicians and bands in history, Johnny Cash, Nick Cave, Coldplay, Depeche Mode, Herbert Grönemeyer, Metallica, Nirvana and U2 amongst them. Last but not least, the award-winning films "Control" and "The American" directed by Anton Corbijn have contributed to his reputation as not only one of most influential contemporary photographers, but also as one of the most outstanding directors worldwide. It is for this reason that he was appointed member of the jury of the 62nd Berlin International Film Festival. Apart from directorial work and commercial photography, Anton Corbijn has been carrying out independent photographic projects since 1997. These works have been exhibited in international museums and galleries. Among the many awards that have honoured Anton Corbijn’s work is the prestigious Prince Bernhard Culture Fund Award that he received in his homeland last year.

The catalogue "Inwards and Onwards" accompanying the photo series of the same name was released by Schirmer/Mosel Verlag in 2011.

On April 19, the documentary "anton corbijn inside out" will be released in German cinemas. It gives impressive insight into the life and work of photographer and director Anton Corbijn.

Image: Anton Corbijn, Patti Smith, Paris, 2011

Press contact
Alexander Golya at +49 (0)30 – 31007745 or presse@camerawork.de

Camera Work
GmbH ⋅ Photogalerie ⋅ Kantstrasse 149 ⋅ 10623 Berlin
Opening hours: Tuesday – Saturday 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.

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