The Collector's Eye

The Collector's Eye
April 30. – May 07, 2011
Studio Thomas Kellner
Friedrichstrasse 42 Siegen, Germany

Thomas Kellner has been making art for 20 years and people have been buying his pictures for about the same amount of time, some have even become collectors of his work. Most of them surround themselves with his pictures at work or at home. And, many of the art lovers are dedicated photographers! So the obvious question was how the collector sees the artwork in his surroundings or himself together with the artwork.

On the wall
This gave rise to the idea for the exhibition "In the eye of the collector", which documents a very personal relationship with Thomas Kellner's works: A potpourri of professional arrangements, snapshots and imaginative compositions portrays early works by the photographic artist (nature tableaux, panoramic and pinhole camera shots) and his characteristic architectural photographs in the intimate living environment of his buyers. In some cases, the buyers themselves are in the photos, allowing the viewer a curious glimpse into the private spheres of households scattered around the world. Other ideas also shine: Kellner's study of the Golden Gate Bridge comes into its own particularly well in front of the original location.

To touch & look at
But books are also part of an artist's life. New print products are published at regular intervals, combining the artworks in illustrations into a bibliophile work with explanatory texts, usually at a more affordable price. This school year, 20 third-year design assistant trainees at the Tüv Rheinland Privatschule Berufkolleg für Kosmetik und Gestaltung are designing a catalog of Kellner's Mexico works.

Thomas Kellner accepted an invitation to Central America in 2006 and photographed the icons of Mexican architecture in Mexico City and the surrounding area, including the pyramids and nearby volcanoes. Original works from this series will whet the appetite for the catalog designs in the studio.   

As winners
These can be seen from April 30 in the studio in Friedrichstrasse and the best design will be awarded a prize on May 7 at 5 pm.

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