A Book Bursting with Marine Life

The story is almost as straightforward as the presentation of the concretely depicted motifs in this book. About 30 years ago, Gerhard Winkler had a key experience that would prove to have a formative impact on his future. During a stroll through the market hall in Lisbon, the artist could not tear himself away from the sight and beauty of the fish on offer there: sardines, hake and garfish, tuna and squid, and many more species, all in abundance, some on ice, others lined up by type on metal stands. The purpose of this aesthetically appealing display is to lure customers – which was successful in his case. But there was more. He took a closer look and discovered for himself the genuine beauty and individuality of the fish. The photographer used mainly black-and-white film, with the developed negatives serving as basis for handmade baryta prints, which he then hand-colored with egg-white glazes to approximate the real-life appearance of the animals. With this singular artistic approach, which draws on historically proven procedures – even the type of coloring goes back to photographic post-processing methods from the nineteenth century – Gerhard Winkler has greatly enriched contemporary photography. Each of his fishes and cephalopods is presented as a sovereign being with an emphasis on its individuality, yet they all appear enchanting, enigmatic, and genuine.

Exhibition:
Die Photographische Sammlung/SK Stiftung Kultur, Köln
3/9/2021 – 16/1/2022