Wolfgang Tillmans

First published 18 April 2020
Last updated 6 June 2023

Wolfgang Tillmans’ Frieschwimmer series was created using dry, cameraless analogue photographic processes. The artist used his hands to manipulate light to create the patterns on the paper during development. The colour was introduced into the images by way of Tillmans’ use of a colour head enlarger and C-type paper. Many art critics regard Tillmans’ work to be situated between observational and abstract photography, creating new narratives while offering a significant contribution to the overarching field of contemporary photography.

Wolfgang Tillmans, Freischwimmer 16, 2003, c-type print on paper, 2395×1797mm

Relevance to practice

Alternative printing, Abstraction, Darkroom, Analogue, Experimentation, Technical, Paradoxical

Keywords

21st century, Art, Photography, Technology, Digital, Perspective, Arrangement, Exploration, Contemporary

References

Artspace Editors. 2016. “8 New Classics of 21st-Century Photography You Need to Know Now.” Artspace. 2016. https://www.artspace.com/magazine/art_101/book_report/phaidon-photography-21st-century-list-53466.

Tillmans, Wolfgang. 2003. Freischwimmer 16. Image. https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artworks/tillmans-freischwimmer-16-p20284.

Chris Gunn

Chris Gunn
USA
Practice: Photography

Gunn is very interesting. None of Gunn’s past work (including music industry based works) features on his website as he feels that he and his imaging making is now in a different place and that although he is connected to his past, he also is not. This is reassuring in my current creative space as I find myself severed from my past work. Gunn produces exceptional images with his application of light, composition, and ability to convey scale and space.

When asked about the rights and licensing of his images Gunn explains that the images are public domain. On further prompting, the “technician” continues that the images can be used by anyone and are also not the property of NASA.

Untitled (Self portrait), Chris Gunn 2014

Relevance to practice

Gunn’s attitude to past work and letting it go is an interesting perspective, much like my own.

Keywords

Chris Gunn, NASA, Astronomy, Telescope, Observatory, Documentary photography, Space station, Technology

References

B&H Photography Podcast 2020, Space Odyssey - Photographing the James Webb Space Telescope with Chris Gunn, podcast, B&H Photo Video, viewed 26 April 2020, <https://open.spotify.com/episode/2x21mYQLU4sOiyrpZdlDj4>

Gunn, C 2014, Self-portrait, photograph, viewed 26 April 2020, <https://www.flickr.com/photos/nasawebbtelescope/46741910804>

 Garner, RM & Jarrell EM 2012, Chris Gunn – A Disciplined Creativity, NASA, viewed 26 April 2020, <https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/about/people/gunn-og.html>