Issued on Wednesday 7 June 2017

‘Fractured Architecture, Cubist Photographs’ at Lacock Abbey

An exhibition of cubist inspired photographs, the work of German artist Thomas Kellner, opens at the National Trust Fox Talbot Museum in Lacock from Saturday 24 June.

Consider a mashup of the old saying ‘familiarity breeds contempt’ and the song ‘Everything Old is New Again’ and you will begin to see the world as Thomas Kellner depicts it.

Thomas is known for his photographs of seemingly dancing architectural exteriors of familiar structures from all over the world. Even though his photographs show well known buildings whose ‘straight’ pictures would be immediately recognisable, his work is unique due to the artistic method he calls ‘visual analytical synthesis’ in which he does not take one shot but a number of thoughtfully planned ones in order to create a picture out of contact sheets. His work is often referred to as Cubism as his creative process includes a construction but with the results resembling a deconstruction.

‘I think I am more of an artist than a photographer.’ says Thomas. ‘At the moment I am working on architecture, but it is not classic architectural photography. There are definitions in art about ‘construction/deconstruction’ or ‘collage/decollage,’ but I don’t think any of it really fits what I am doing right now, maybe my work is closer to conceptual art or conceptual photography. Many have said it is ‘very German,’ and that might be closer.’

Thomas’ work imitates the wandering look of the eye, showing segments of the total which come together as one image. His photographs do not necessarily deconstruct architecture but instead reconstruct our view of it.  Thomas has developed his own unique visual language of multiple perspectives whereby the finished image is a sequence mounted on a contact sheet of 35-mm roll of film and sometimes, two or more rolls.

‘Fractured Architecture, Cubist Photographs’ is on display at the Fox Talbot Museum in Lacock from Saturday 24 June to Sunday 24 September and is free with normal admission.

The Fox Talbot Museum at Lacock Abbey is open to visitors throughout the year. National Trust members and under 5s go free. Lacock is near Chippenham, Wiltshire SN15 2LG. For more information, visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lacock

 

Ends

 

Images:

London, Westminster Abbey, 1999 © VG BildKunst Bonn und Thomas Kellner

England, Lacock Abbey, 2002 © VG BildKunst Bonn und Thomas Kellner

 

For further press information and images please contact:

Roger Watson, Fox Talbot Museum Curator

Roger.watson@nationaltrust.org.uk / 01249 730176

 

Allan King/Aimee Endsor, National Trust SW Press Office 01275 378440

 

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About the artist

Thomas Kellner was born in Bonn, Germany in 1966. He studied art, sociology, politics and economy at the University of Siegen, Germany. In 1996, Kodak Germany awarded him the Young Professionals Prize upon which he decided on a career in art and photography. Thomas has been living and working as a visual artist in Siegen since 1997. In 2003 and 2004, Thomas was a visiting professor of fine art photography at the University of Giessen and also in 2003; he received the call for membership to the German Association for Photography (DGPh).

 

Thomas Kellner has exhibited his work in solo shows in Germany, Australia, Russia, China, France, Poland, Brazil, USA and Denmark since 2002 and has been included in countless group exhibitions and publications.

You can find out more about Thomas Kellner at www.thomaskellner.com/thomas-kellner/thomas-kellner/the-artist/

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