Press : Herlinde Koelbl

BFF-Hall of Fame - Herlinde Koelbl


Duration: 16.2. -20.5.2018
Opening: 15.2.2018, 7 pm
Press date: 15.2.2018, 11 am

Press release

Contemporary chronicler
"BFF Hall of Fame - Herlinde Koelbl"
at NRW-Forum Düsseldorf

Herlinde Koelbl is one of the most renowned German photo artists. On the occasion of the first edition of Duesseldorf Photo, the NRW-Forum presents an exhibition of the BFF Berufsverband Freie Fotografen und Filmgestalter e.V. (BFF Professional Association of Freelance Photographers and Filmgestalter e. V.) from 16 February to 20 May 2018.

Herlinde Koelbl is interested in people: in their cultural environment, in their everyday life, their physicality and individuality. With her long-term photographic studies, she is regarded as a chronicler of the present. She is not only a photographer, but also a narrator, director, sociologist and cultural historian. In 1980 she became famous for her illustrated book "Das deutsche Wohnzimmer" (The German Living Room), in 1984 she published "Männer" (Men) and in 1990 "Starke Frauen" (Strong Women). In 1989 she produced her award-winning work "Jüdische Porträts" (Jewish Portraits) and from 1991 to 1998 she photographed and interviewed 15 personalities from politics and business every year under the title "Spuren der Macht - Die Verwandlung des Menschen durch das Amt" (Traces of Power - The Transformation of Man through the Office).

"When I discovered photography, it was like arriving[...] I wanted to photograph people and take pictures of life. People are unpredictable, full of secrets and destinies[...] Sometimes there is an unprecedented closeness and familiarity, for a short while, sometimes it's a soft, tenacious struggle, sometimes a wordless dialogue, sometimes recognition", she describes her own work on the portrait.

Herlinde Koelbl frequently publishes documentary films and video installations on similar topics to her books and exhibitions. Her sensitive and often philosophical interviews appear regularly in the ZEITmagazin. She has won numerous awards for her work, her photographs can be seen in international exhibitions and in important collections.

The BFF Berufsverband Freie Fotografen und Filmgestalter e. V. (BFF Professional Association of Freelance Photographers and Filmgestalter e. V.) not only dedicates an exhibition to her as part of Duesseldorf Photo, but also takes her into the BFF Hall of Fame with a ceremony (Friday, 16.2., 7 pm). On Sunday, 18 February (from 11 am), the BFF invites interested photographers to the NRW Forum for a briefing. Further dates with lectures of well-known BFF photographers will follow and will be announced soon.

The BFF represents professional photographers and film designers. The association has around 520 members, including renowned founding and honorary members such as Prof. F. C. Gundlach, Peter Lindbergh, Elliot Erwitt, Sarah Moon and Oliviero Toscani. Through public relations work, folder shows, conferences, exhibitions, event series and publications, the BFF wants to promote discussions about the future of photography and also takes care of safeguarding the economic and working conditions of its members. www.bff.de

Press contact BFF | Jürgen Meister | BFF-Berufsverband Freie Fotografen und Filmgestalter e. V. | Fon +49 (0)711 473422 | info@bff.de

IMAGES

It is permissible to use at no charge the pictorial material listed here for topic-oriented reporting (in print- and online-media as well as via social-media channels) and with inclusion of the indicated photo credit. The exemption from utilization fees expires six weeks after the end of the exhibition.

In the case of an article or reprint, we would be pleased to receive a copy at presse@nrw-forum.de or NRW-Forum Düsseldorf, Pressestelle, Ehrenhof 2, 40479 Düsseldorf. Thank you.

Project partners

Partners Stadtsparkasse Düsseldorf Otto Beisheim Stiftung Hoffmann Liebs Max Brown Midtown CCS