Photography & Artwork: Laura Yearley
Wolfgang Tillmans, astro crusto 2012 © Wolfgang Tillmans
Wolfgang Tillmans, Greifbar 29 2014 © Wolfgang Tillmans
Wolfgang Tillmans, Lampedusa 2008 © Wolfgang Tillmans
Wolfgang Tillmans, Tukan 2010 © Wolfgang Tillmans
Earlier this year, I took a long awaited trip to the Tate Modern, on the breezy South Bank of London’s Thames River, where the obscene structure, previously a working factory, stands, solitude and ready to amaze one. As you enter the building, it feels cold, bare and almost abandoned. That’s of course until you see all the rushing crowds awaiting there exhibitions. On that particular spring day, I visited the Wolfgang Tillman’s photography exhibition, where the photographer exhibited over 200 fabulous prints, all over 1mx1m. The exhibition wasn’t just about looking, or wandering- it was about the sheer capacity of what one holds, and connotes different things to different people. For me, it was expressing his love and passion for international travel, as well as the love and passion for his identity. Tillman’s is an openly homosexual, and exhibits his “camp” essence throughout the exhibition, even glamorously showing off some sexual photographs, showing bravery- and boldness. As you walk through the exhibition – you begin to understand that what Tillman’s work is doing, isn’t showing off his elaborate use of a camera, or what a good photographer he is, but showing us things we don’t want to see. As you stumble into one of the middle rooms of this obscene exhibition – you are faced with the incredible homage of posters, leaflets and advertisements. Each connotes something extremely binary to the last. The first one I held stated “HIV – RONNY DIES AGED 19”. Tillmans’ was not using the shock factor, or using the story to shock – but was using an interpersonal connection with a complete stranger to someone who hasn’t ever known “Ronny”. To an outsider, like me, the exhibition wasn’t just art, or photographs; it was a dictionary of thoughts, an encyclopaedia of Tillman’s work, which was deeply rewarding to see.
Wolfgang Tillmans, Weed 2014 © Wolfgang Tillmans
Wolfgang Tillmans, Concorde L433-11 1997 © Wolfgang Tillmans