Wolfgang Tillmans – German Photographer and Artist

After the European Union referendum in Britain, the politics in Wolfgang Tillmans work were transformed into activism. His “pro-Remain, print-it-yourself poster campaign” gained traction that has alway been there, with photographs recontextualised in many shows. His images are presented as Xeroxes that are unframed, using the “globetrotting method,” which gives his work a sense of urgency.

Tillmans poster project had a melancholy aspect to it. However, his work didn’t go unnoticed, as this was his twelfth show with Daie Buchholz, his eight with Maureen Paley among a dozen other group shows.

In his free time, Tillmans has released his first record, working with the acclaimed singer Frank Ocean. The record has surging techno with amazing vocals. He is also, preparing for a show at the Tate Modern Museum and running his own space in Berlin – Between Bridges.

Tillmans may have moved from darkrooms to working with digital imagery, but he will always be developing his work. In 2016, Tillmans was named one of the year’s most influential people in the contemporary art world by ArtReview magazine.

The masculine name Wolfgang is derived from the Germanic elements wulf that means “wolf” and gang that means “path” or “journey”. There are two really famous people with this name, the Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and the German poet and novelist Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Not to mention the many other notable people with the name, from Wolfgang Flur the German musician to Wolfgang Kuck the German volleyball player.