Andreas Trogisch is a German photographer and artist who specialises particularly in gloomy black/white photography. He’s been at it since the beginning of the 80s. Interestingly enough, it’s the least beautiful and non-representative places – especially their corners and edges – that draw him in like a moth to a flame. He captures them while retaining their their honesty and authenticity.
Backyards, scaffolds, telephone poles and rubbles are skillfully placed in the scene. His Mercedes series is one of the most sombre photo shoots I have ever seen. Despite what the name might lead us to expect, we never actually see an entire car still in one piece. Instead, all we see is close-ups of wreckage: wires, rust and scrap metal are the features laid out to be admired. Even his newest work, Runway, is unusual in a similar sense. A close-up shot of something that looks like a chewed-up concrete pavement… You’ll probably need some alone time afterwards, just to digest what you saw.
This may sound crazy, but I believe that the depicted bleakness hides a certain beauty within itself. It belies an honesty that captivates one’s attention, and it does not shy away from exhibiting its depressive core. There are no alluring nature scenes; there are no beautiful people – there’s only simple sadness and grey on grey on grey.
More information: andreastrogisch.de
