Germany by Photography: Andreas Muhe's solo exhibition opens in Red Brick Art Museum

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Renowned German photographer Andreas Muhe's first solo exhibition in China opened on Wednesday at Beijing's Red Brick Art Museum. Focusing on the narratives of Muhe's native Germany, it presents over 60 of the artist's classic photos spanning the past 15 years, plus his latest works from 2018. Sun Wei takes a look.

As a contemporary German photographer, Muhe is difficult to categorize. His works present dramatic aesthetic characteristics through the use of large-format analogue cameras.

With implications both simple and subtle, he probes into the visible yet unobservable reality.

SUN WEI BEIJING "Muhe was just ten years old when the Berlin Wall fell in 1989. Since then, the history of Germany came into his life. From cultural identity and political situation to the current social reality, the artist carefully looks into his coutry's past and present."

Exploring the influence of the division between western and eastern Germany, and the process of -- and status quo following -- reunification, Muhe questions class, authority and tradition.

He began to study Germany's Nazi period in 2004 and took fashion shots in the Prora resort village known for its planned Nazi tourism facilities.

These helped him capture Nazi officers in postures of authority and servility as well as the "Nazification" of landscape and means of focus.

His portraits include Helmut Kohl, the former chancellor of Germany, standing in front of the Brandenburg Gate at sunset; Angela Merkel, incumbent chancellor of Germany, gazing at a landscape; well-known artists and other public figures.

The seemingly romantic scenes are freed from the use of romantic elements of expression.

Jointly presented by the Red Brick Art Museum and the Bonn Foundation for Art and Culture, the exhibition runs from September 12th to October 21st. SW, CGTN.