Work in progress: Wolfgang Tillmans’ ’PCR’ opens at David Zwirner, NYC

Wolfgang Tillmans solo show
’PCR’ is a new Wolfgang Tillmans solo show, currently on view at David Zwirner gallery in New York
(Image credit: David Zwirner)

In a world awash with images, Wolfgang Tillmans has managed to reinforce the significance of the photograph – a feat made evident in 'PCR', a new solo exhibition at David Zwirner gallery, in New York.

In keeping with his approach to showing work, the exhibition includes work of all shapes and sizes, ranging from a series of 4 x 6-inch prints to pictures that reach over 25 times that scale. 'Paper size has always interested me,' Tillmans explains. Some pictures are framed. Others are not. Some he tapes to the wall. Others are mounted in custom vitrines. 'Exhibitions are spatial experiences,' he says. 'Why should I hang everything in a straight line? Museums and galleries are like laboratories. I can sound out my work.'

Tillmans' subject matter is as diverse as his print sizes and formats. On the gallery walls are human portraits, plants, interior environments, and quotidian streetscapes (or, as Tillmans puts it more colourfully in the title of one of the exhibition’s pictures, 'shit buildings going up left, right, and centre'). 'A lot of the themes and formats are similar from day one,' he reflects. In one series, he photographs Russian gay bars. But this is not the standard-fare photographer gawking at youthful hedonism. Even though he does capture a bit of that, the work has an agenda. 'Nightlife and politics are never far apart,' he cautions.

Another one of his muses—the car—is the subject of a new book, The Cars. In town for the exhibition opening, Tillmans signed copies at Dashwood Books, a photography bookstore on Bond Street.

Further uptown, meanwhile, the Metropolitan Museum of Art extended the run of Book for Architects, his two-channel installation that premiered at the 2014 Venice Architecture Biennale, and which architecture and design curator Beatrice Galilee acquired for the museum’s Department of Modern and Contemporary of Art.

Galery with human portraits, plants, interior environments and quotidian streetscapes

Lining the gallery walls are human portraits, plants, interior environments and quotidian streetscapes

(Image credit: David Zwirner)

David Zwirner gallery photograph

’A lot of the themes and formats are similar from day one,’ Tillmans says. In one series, he photographs Russian gay bars – but this is not the standard-fare photographer gawking at youthful hedonism. Pictured: arms and legs, 2014

(Image credit: David Zwirner)

Blue Oyster Bar, Saint Petersburg, 2014 photograph

His work has an agenda. ’Nightlife and politics are never far apart,’ he cautions. Pictured: The Blue Oyster Bar, Saint Petersburg, 2014

(Image credit: David Zwirner)

The Spectrum / Dagger, 2014

The Spectrum / Dagger, 2014

(Image credit: David Zwirner)

gallery pictures

Some pictures are framed. Others are not. Some he tapes to the wall. Others are mounted in custom vitrines

(Image credit: David Zwirner)

Exhibition interiors

’Exhibitions are spatial experiences,’ Tillmans says. ’Why should I hang everything in a straight line? Museums and galleries are like laboratories. I can sound out my work’

(Image credit: David Zwirner)

buildings exterior

shit buildings going up left, right and centre, 2014

(Image credit: David Zwirner)

Adalbert Garden

Adalbert Garden, 2014

(Image credit: David Zwirner)

water Leafs and fowers

Leaf for Architects, 2013

(Image credit: David Zwirner)

studio table with computers

studio still life, C, 2014

(Image credit: David Zwirner)

water melon with white plate

water melon still life, 2012

(Image credit: David Zwirner)

woman wrapped in white towel on beach

Carmen Camargue, 2013

(Image credit: David Zwirne)

people boating

Iquitos Dos, 2013

(Image credit: David Zwirner)

sea waters

Santa Marta, 2012

(Image credit: David Zwirner)

David Zwirner gallery picture

Silver 170, 2013

(Image credit: David Zwirner)

photograph of Simon

Simon, Sebastrian Street, 2013

(Image credit: David Zwirner)

banana tree trunk

Still life, Calle Real II, 2014

(Image credit: David Zwirn)

Sunset night drive

Sunset night drive, c, 2013

(Image credit: David Zwirner)

David Zwirner gallery pictures

Another one of his muses – he car – is the subject of a new book, The Cars. In town for the exhibition opening, Tillmans signed copies at Dashwood Books, a photography bookstore on Bond Street

(Image credit: David Zwirner)

David Zwirner exhibition pictures

’PCR’ is on view until 24 October

(Image credit: David Zwirner)

’PCR’ is on view until 24 October

INFORMATION

’PCR’ runs until October 24

Photography courtesy David Zwirner

ADDRESS

David Zwirner
525 W 19th St
New York, NY 10011

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