Thomas Kellner - Visual Analytical Synthesis
November 20 – December 18, 2019
Library of the University of Siegen, Germany
University of Siegen
Sub-Library, Lower Castle
Unteres Schloss 1
57072 Siegen
Germany
„A sort of managed coincidence then also gives room for play within the various versions of the one large subject. In this respect, one could consider the process of making an image a type of art performance, ...“ Kneppe, J. Kontakt Kellner, Thomas 2014, Seltmann+Söhne Berlin/Siegen, page 38
Visually Analytical Synthesis
Photographs by Thomas Kellner
shown in the passage of the sub-library Unteres Schloss
from November 20 to December 18, 2019
There are millions of photos of the Eiffel Tower. However, the photograph by photographer Thomas Kellner is unique: the Parisian landmark is composed of around 36 shiny individual parts. By mounting the contact prints from analogue photography, it seems that the illustrated building - as described by the art historian Dr. Yi-hui Huang - "dance behind the grid, wave to us or break apart". Kellner's method of composite photography - the "Visual Analytical Synthesis" - he developed from 1997. It has now made him known well beyond the borders of his adopted home Siegen out. His architectural shots of Big Ben, the Reichstag or Neuschwanstein Castle are not intended to depict reality, but to stimulate reflection on our ordinary way of looking at the buildings themselves and their photographs.
In the exhibition "Visual Analytical Synthesis", which will be on display from 20 November to 18 December 2019 in the passage of the sub-library Lower Castle, Kellner not only shows his 'dancing' photo compositions and the like, from libraries, Mexico, Freudenberg, the Reichstag, Neuschwanstein Castle, Big Ben and the Eiffel Tower, but also monographs, book designs and sketchbooks.
Chiara Bohn will speak at an opening on Wednesday, November 20 at 6:00 pm, about the work of Thomas Kellner.
The show is accompanied by the book "Thomas Kellner: Visual Analytical Synthesis", which appears in the publishing house seltmann + söhne ISBN 978-3-946688-77-8. The comprehensive bibliography on the work of the Siegener photographer is presented in the work analysis "Subjective and Lens: The Interplay of Mind and the Outside World" by art historian Dr. Yi-hui Huang supplemented and accompanied with numerous illustrations of Kellner's works.
For further questions please contact:
Dr. phil. Jessica Stegemann
University Library Hölderlinstraße 3
Tel .: 0271/740 4285 / email: stegemann@ub.uni-siegen.de
thank you to Dr. Jochen Johannsen for this wonderful exhibition and to Dr. Jessica Steegemann for the professionall support mounting the show at the lower castle.
German opening speech available
