"From the Small to the Large - Minimalism in
Photography."
Photography in change - change through photography
How it all began:
In the early/mid-2000s, Berlin was particularly torn and
full of often painful contrasts: Ossi and Wessi, foreigners and Germans, rich
and poor districts, showcase and forgotten places, working people and the
unemployed - the mood was not good. As a young photographer, Andreas Bromba was
of the opinion: This has to change - he wants to set an artistic position
against it and overcome the division. As a means of artistic expression he has
chosen the language of minimalism, of "less is more".
The photographs of berlin minimal were taken in analog with
Polaroid's Pola Graph small-format film. Now the aim is to revive the
minimalist visual language, but not to imitate the original Pola Graph film
(which is technically possible via Photoshop and presets).
The minimalist concept was successful from the start. Adam
Opel AG generously sponsored the entire project: a large photo exhibition in
2005 at the then Opel Communications Center in Berlin, plus a vernissage with
many celebrities and diplomats, an exhibition catalog, an extensive advertising
campaign.
The photo project "From the small to the large -
minimalism in photography" shows change on three levels or even causes a
3-fold change:
1. the minimalist series document the change in the cities
(so far: Berlin, Munich, now Hamburg, soon also internationally).
2. the minimalist series themselves are in process: from
analog to digital - without being pleasing or losing the soul of the series.
The change also takes place from series to series, sometimes even within the
series themselves in color, grain etc.t (see point B.).
3. the minimalist series bring about a different, new view
of one's own city: they encourage magnanimity, tolerance and activity
(wandering and exploring) and are simply fun. The viewers are now in the
process of change themselves!
After 20 years it is time to use the successful minimalism
concept again: The world is burning everywhere - ethnic and religious
conflicts, contrasts between rich and poor, modern and neglected neighborhoods.
Here comes minimal just right: Again, a neutral view should
cancel the polarization and contribute to rediscover your own city together! A
feeling of togetherness is created, art connects playfully, arouses curiosity
and invites!
Per city exist 25 to 30 motifs. Each district is represented
by 1 to 3 motifs - a kind of "parliament of photos"!
At the moment, hamburg minimal and münchen minimal are being
created.
Planned: london minimal, new york minimal, dubai minimal
Let's reduce - then we have no opposites!
