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‘Lichten’ – Thomas Ruff in the Kunsthalle with 5 Series and 35 years of Photography
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| THOMAS RUFF Interieur 5E, 1983 From the series: Interieurs – Interieurs – Intérieurs – Interiors C-print © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2014 |
‘Lichten’
September 20 – January 11
‘Instead of photographing our daily reality, Ruff focuses on portraying the realities of photography.’
This is how the Kunsthalle describes the method behind the works of Thomas Ruff in their recent exhibition running till January 11. Pretty high-toned, right? To be honest, I didn’t get it when I first read it. And I didn’t get it when I read it for the second time. Neither in English nor in German did the the actual meaning of that sentence enlighten my mind. But if you go and see the exhibition ‘Lichten’ in the Kunsthalle am Grabbeplatz 4, try and make a mental note of it – read on, and you’ll find out why...
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| View on the first floor of the Kunsthalle Four photos of the photogram series |
As a student of Bernd and Hilla Becher, Thomas Ruff, born in 1958, was educated as part of the 'Düsseldorf School of Photography', which stood for a neutral, objectifying documentary-like style – like you might expect from journalistic photographers. Ruff’s own interest in astronomy — which he originally would have liked to study — furthermore explains the combination of scientific and artistic methodology behind his works. His most recent series ‘phg’ for example, resulted from a cooperation with the ’Jülich Centre of Research’ that enabled him to render his high resolution photograms with one of their supercomputers – those computers are extremely powerful and used for the most modern calculation processes in research. What has come out of this cooperation of arts and science are beautifully distractive layered 3D-like mashups of geometrical forms – difficult to explain – so do go and look for yourself.
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| THOMAS RUFF r.phg.s.05, 2014 From the series: Fotogramme – Fotogrammen – Photogrammes – Photograms C-print © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2014 |
When you wander through the exhibit rooms, try and follow the path of the changing light in Ruff’s photographs. From natural daylight in his old-fashioned, antiquated interiors, over the long-distance, long-dead lights from the sky in his ‘Sterne’-photos, playing with the effects of the inversion of light in his strangely close portrait-series, to the artificial lightning in the impressive digitally processed series ‘phg’. The exhibition thereby also depicts the fast development of photography technology. From analogue technique to working methods based entirely on digital practice, from micro to macro to an almost ‘virtual’ cosmos, Ruff’s works depict a cross-section of photography history.
If you don’t want to do the exhibition on your own but prefer a bit of guidance or company – we’re planning to do a guided tour through the exhibit. We’ll announce the dates on the blog and on facebook – follow us, stay tuned!
If you’re familiar with Ruff though, you might be looking for the series of portraits that made him famous. Spoiler: you won’t find it, since this little retrospective, supported by the Kunststiftung NRW, technically is not a retrospective, but a thematic overview. An overview of five series from 35 years of the artist working with and exploring photography’s most vital ingredient: light.
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| THOMAS RUFF neg◊india_01, 2014 From the series: Negatives – Négatifs - Negatives Chromogenic print © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2014 |
The exhibition’s name ‘Lichten’ is a clever play of words. Being the plural of ‘light’ in Dutch, it evokes connotations of the German ‘belichten’, which means ‘enlighten’. And with that, we probably are pretty close to what might be the author’s intention behind ’the realities of photography’. A photograph’s impression, its expression and ‘reality’ depends to a major extent on the right lightning. Ruff’s photographs are like an expedition through the possibilities of light and its use in and for the art of photography.
Kunsthalle
Grabbeplatz 4
40213 Düsseldorf
Opening hours: Tuesday - Sunday, 11am - 6pm
Entry: €6 Concessions €3 Young people under 18 for free
Special offer: Free entry between 6pm and 8pm every last Thursday of the month
Alina Valient
Joel Meyerowitz Retrospective at the NRW-Forum
Joel Meyerowitz Retrospective
September 27 2014 - January 11 2015over 50 years of American photography
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| Joel Meyerowitz enjoying every second of the opening on Friday September 27 Photo© Gabi Lugis |
RhineBuzz Tours returning to the NRW-Forum
Free tours in English
Sunday September 28 at 2pm
and then every second and every fourth Friday evening of the month,
except for December 26,
except for December 26,
followed by a get together for the international community in the bar of the NRW-Forum:
Friday October 10 at 8pm
Friday October 24 at 8pm
Friday October 24 at 8pm
Friday November 14 at 8pm
Friday November 28 at 8pm
Friday November 28 at 8pm
Friday December 12 at 8pm
Friday January 9 at 8pm
Friday January 9 at 8pm
Entry €6.00
and by request during regular opening hours, €55.00 per group of up to 25 persons, plus €6.00 entry per person. Enquiries: tours@rhinebuzz.com
Joel Meyerowitz Retrospective is curated and organised by
Ralph Goertz of the IKS,
Institut für Kunstdokumentation und Szenografie
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| Photo: Pedro Custodio |
Joel Meyerowitz Retrospective is curated and organised by
Ralph Goertz of the IKS,
Institut für Kunstdokumentation und Szenografie
NRW-Forum
Ehrenhof 2
40479 Düsseldorf
The Stammtisch - meeting for the international community, is supported by the
City of Düsseldorf and the Department of Economic Development.
From October 10, I, or Ann-Katrin Borgensam, will be at the NRW-Forum from 7pm until 10pm on the Friday of each tour to answer any questions you may have on settling in in Düsseldorf, we can help to make your stay a whole lot easier!
From October 10, I, or Ann-Katrin Borgensam, will be at the NRW-Forum from 7pm until 10pm on the Friday of each tour to answer any questions you may have on settling in in Düsseldorf, we can help to make your stay a whole lot easier!
The ESC presents The Life and Times of William Shakespeare
The English Speakers' Circle presents - The Life and Times of
William Shakespeare by the Wilde Shamrock Touring Theatre.
Who was William
Shakespeare? Whenever we hear his name we think of ‘Romeo and Juliet’, we think
of ‘Macbeth’. We think of the genius that is accepted as the greatest writer of
all time. Doesn’t everyone think of that?
Wilde Shamrock
Touring Theatre doesn’t. They are more interested in William Shakespeare as a
human being. Have you ever thought of Shakespeare having to suffer with every
day life? A difficult marriage, loud kids irritating him, temperamental actors
making his life a misery. These are the features of any genius that helps to
mould his life. And they are the features that Wilde Shamrock bring to life.
Just what was happening in Shakespeare’s life that may have helped him to
create some of the most celebrated works in the English language. We look at his life as it was. A struggle to
make his family happy while trying to satisfy his artistic abilities. Come
along and see the hilarious interpretation of the life of the world’s greatest
writer. Not to be missed.
Wilde Shamrock Touring Theatre has been touring Europe
since 2011 with a unique blend of theatre and Irish Music. Based in Dublin, the
company plays in schools, theatres and town halls. The blend of interactive
theatre with music has been thrilling audiences for the past three years.
The Life and Times of William Shakespeare
presented by:
English Speakers' Circle
in cooperation with the
International Education Center 'Die Brück'
English Speakers' Circle
in cooperation with the
International Education Center 'Die Brück'
Wednesday November 26 at 7pm
at the Volkshochschule,
Weiterbildungszentrum, Saal 1
Berta-von-Suttner Platz
Düsseldorf
Tickets: €9 Groups €7.50 by arrangement
contact Susan Jones 0211 3193 22
at the Volkshochschule,
Weiterbildungszentrum, Saal 1
Berta-von-Suttner Platz
Düsseldorf
Tickets: €9 Groups €7.50 by arrangement
contact Susan Jones 0211 3193 22
Tim Berresheim in the Kunstverein für Die Rheinlande und Westfalen - More ‘Digital Sweat’
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| Tim Berresheim
Installation view Auge und Welt, Kunstverein für die Rheinlande und Westfalen, Düsseldorf, 2014
Center: Aspettatori crapulent I (Auge & Welt), 2014, foto mounted on dibond, framed, 240 cm x 180 cm
Courtesy Kunstverein für die Rheinlande und Westfalen, Düsseldorf
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If you step by the Kunsthalle these days to see the Thomas Ruff exhibition, you also shouldn’t miss what’s going on on the first floor exhibition room of the Kunstverein für die Rheinlande und Westfalen. Aachen-based artist, Tim Berresheim, is showing ‘Eye and World’ - anonymously set, digitally modelled figures that are placed before reduced, neutral backgrounds. Berresheim uses these as human canvases, draws and sketches on them and converts the figures that are made with the 3D-graphic programme ‘Cinema 4D’ back into a two-dimensional artwork by printing them out life-sized.
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| View on the installation ‘Eye and World’ Kunstverein für die Rheinlande und Westfalen, Düsseldorf, 2014 Middle: Aspettatori bugged out I (Auge & Welt), 2014 Photo on Dibond, framed, 240 cm x 180 cm Courtesy Kunstverein für die Rheinlande und Westfalen, Düsseldorf |
Berresheim‘s opulent visual production shares one commonality with Ruff’s – the ‘digital sweat’ that ran whilst manufacturing the work. Both artists benefit from the possibilities of digital technology and then they go beyond, exceeding the potential. While Ruff’s works focus on the functions and possibilities of light, Berresheim is more interested in the moment of seeing and perceiving. His combination of digital technology, 3D-modelling, printing, handwriting and sketching are meant to question the conventions of defining a picture. What is the frame? What are the surroundings?
Berresheim’s works are aligned on the wall, embedded in a wallpaper, and yet, they have an arresting 3 dimensionality to them. Entering the room is like stepping into the studio of a tattoo-artist collecting ideas for his first full-body-cover. Even the artist himself – who also creates music – is tattooed all over, as if he could hop into one of his very own pictures the very next second ... check out his great website here.
‘Eye and World’
September 20 – January 11
Opening hours: Tuesday- Sunday 11am - 6pm
September 20 – January 11
Kunstverein für die Rheinlande und Westfalen
Grabbeplatz 4
40213 Düsseldorf
Opening hours: Tuesday- Sunday 11am - 6pm
Entry: €6 Concessions €3 Young people under 18 free
Free entry between 6pm and 8pm every last Thursday of the month
Free entry between 6pm and 8pm every last Thursday of the month
Alina Valient
‘Knitting Peace’ and more at the düsseldorf festival!
With one of their visually most impressive shows, this year’s ‘düsseldorf festival!’ blew you away at half time! ‘Knitting peace’ is the name of the piece that kept visitors breathless for three nights of the festival. The Swedish ensemble ‘Circus Cirkör’, a project that has run for over 16 years now, and has been enjoyed by over 1.2 million people, presented their latest production of four artists and two musicians, sounding out the borders of theatre and contemporary circus. Exploring the genre of knitting, the artists played on - and above - the main festival marquee staging and fulfilled the first part of the show’s name by actually knitting part of the entwined stage set live before the audience's eyes.
But if you were looking for 'peace', the grand Festival Marquee on the Burgplatz was not the right place for you. Vigorous moves and risqué tricks between thin ropes and knotted, knitted spiderwebs, together with the combination of violin and melancholiac, rocky electric sounds created a taught atmosphere in the tent. The acrobats, dressed in white or black, crawled, rolled, balanced, climbed and unicycled over the stage, reminding me of silkworms caught in their own nets, constantly building and destroying their cocoons.
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| Cirkus Cirkör © Mats Bäcker |
The festival runs until September 28 and is definitely worth checking out. Just as ‘Circus Cirkör’ blurs the lines between dance theatre and classic acrobatic circus, the düsseldorf festival! offers a wide range of concerts, dance, theatre, readings and everything in between; bringing together and eloquently crossing the lines of arts and culture.
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| Cirkus Cirkör © Mats Bäcker |
Highlights for the following week at the düsseldorf festival!
If you enjoy contemporary circus, you might find the Aurélien Bory & Compagnie 111 production ‘Sans objet’ interesting. Their ‘Pas de Trois for Robots and Acrobats’ will be on in the grand festival marquee from September 23 - 25 at 8 pm.
The interplay of violin and electronic sound, is presented with the ‘Inside Partita’ of Midori Seiler & Friends in the tanzhaus nrw.
The mix of performative concert and electronic sound installation can be seen for two days on September 23 and 24 at 7.30pm. Even for fans of BreakDance and Indian Kathak the düsseldorf festival! has something to offer. If the combination of modern dance and hiphop does it for you, Kader Attou & Compagnie Accrorap bring their 'Vision of Mankind Dancing' to the Festival Marquee on the Burgplatz for Friday 26 and Saturday 27. The German premiere of their production ‘The Roots’ will be on at 8pm.
Those who want to join the peaceful knitting revolution, please feel free to join the urban knitting project of the Mülheim-based designer Nora Peters, who, accompanying the festival and sponsored by the ‘Industrieeterrains Düsseldorf-Reisholz AG’, knitted her colourful woollen artworks round the pillars of the IDR-car park at the Carlsplatz. So if you can – join the knitting operation and knit for peace – or anything else that keeps you inspired!
düsseldorf festival!
September 10 - 28
Festival Marquee on Burgplatz
Win at the Düsseldorf Expats Welcome Day 2014
Every person who comes to the Expats Welcome Day at the NRW-Forum on September 19 will have the chance to win some great prizes welcoming you to the city of Düsseldorf:
The Düsseldorf Photo Weekend is offering:
The Duane Michels dvd "The Man Who Invented Himself"
5 x Düsseldorf Photo Weekend posters
1 place on the English tour of the Düsseldorf Photo Weekend 2015
10 x tickets for the HopOn HopOff City Tour Bus
10 x 72 hour DüsseldorfCards
2 x bike/skate helmets by Nuthouse and 2 x inline skating courses from Rollnacht
A 12 week business course in English at the English Language Forum
A 12 week German for Expats course at the English Language Forum
A French course at Institut français Düsseldorf and a voucher for the library
A twice a week, 4 week, evening German course at Sprachcafé
The Museum Kunstpalast is offering 3 x entry for 2 persons to the museum plus 3 beautiful full colour house catalogues
Entry for 2 is also offered by:
The Stadtmuseum
The Film Museum
The Heinrich Heine Institute
The Goethe Museum
The Deutsch-Indische Gesellschaft e.V. is offering:
2 tickets to the Indian Light Festival in the Ratinger Townhall
2 x subscriptions to their magazine 'Indien Aktuell'
2 vouchers for either a tour or excursion with the volunteer organisation Düsseldorf-aktiv
2 tickets to a performance at the düsseldorf festival!
2 tickets to the most popular opera Tosca at the Deutsche Oper am Rhein
Dentists John & Chanteaux are giving away an electric toothbrush
RhineBuzz is giving away a signed copy of Düsseldorf photographer and World Press Photo winner, Horst Wackerbarth's "Here and There"
And one free entry to the exhibition and English tour of the photography exhibition Joel Meyerowitz at the NRW-Forum
O'Reilly's the popular Irish bar, has just moved location in the Altstadt. They have given 2 x €50.00 vouchers for food and drink at the new bar
JUST COME IN! 3 x catalogues and 3x2 entry to the Kunsthalle Düsseldorf for the Thomas Ruff exhibition opening on Saturday!
The Düsseldorf Photo Weekend is offering:
The Duane Michels dvd "The Man Who Invented Himself"
5 x Düsseldorf Photo Weekend posters
1 place on the English tour of the Düsseldorf Photo Weekend 2015
10 x tickets for the HopOn HopOff City Tour Bus
10 x 72 hour DüsseldorfCards
2 x bike/skate helmets by Nuthouse and 2 x inline skating courses from Rollnacht
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| Skaters at the Rollnacht ©Rollnacht |
A 12 week business course in English at the English Language Forum
A 12 week German for Expats course at the English Language Forum
A French course at Institut français Düsseldorf and a voucher for the library
A twice a week, 4 week, evening German course at Sprachcafé
The Museum Kunstpalast is offering 3 x entry for 2 persons to the museum plus 3 beautiful full colour house catalogues
Entry for 2 is also offered by:
The Stadtmuseum
The Film Museum
The Heinrich Heine Institute
The Goethe Museum
The Deutsch-Indische Gesellschaft e.V. is offering:
2 tickets to the Indian Light Festival in the Ratinger Townhall
2 x subscriptions to their magazine 'Indien Aktuell'
2 vouchers for either a tour or excursion with the volunteer organisation Düsseldorf-aktiv
2 tickets to a performance at the düsseldorf festival!
2 tickets to the most popular opera Tosca at the Deutsche Oper am Rhein
Dentists John & Chanteaux are giving away an electric toothbrush
RhineBuzz is giving away a signed copy of Düsseldorf photographer and World Press Photo winner, Horst Wackerbarth's "Here and There"
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| On the Ring Road Near Frozen Lake Stemmulon, Iceland, 2003 @Horst Wackerbarth |
And one free entry to the exhibition and English tour of the photography exhibition Joel Meyerowitz at the NRW-Forum
O'Reilly's the popular Irish bar, has just moved location in the Altstadt. They have given 2 x €50.00 vouchers for food and drink at the new bar
JUST COME IN! 3 x catalogues and 3x2 entry to the Kunsthalle Düsseldorf for the Thomas Ruff exhibition opening on Saturday!
Many, many thanks to all who have contributed!
düsseldorf festival!
The düsseldorf festival!, a celebration of the performing arts hosted at numerous locations throughout the city, including churches, banks and the familiar Festival Marquee on Burgplatz, kicks off on September 10.
New for this year will be a projection by Japanese/German visual artist Kanjo Také who has created a visual extravaganza of the world which will be projected onto the Festival Marquee.
On September 10, 13 and 19 balloons will rise from the projected images into the night sky, and should you be lucky enough to catch one with a voucher attached - take it along to the box office in the marquee, for charmingly, you will have won a seat at one of the alluring performances to come!
Fado, Irish dance music, big brass bands, contemporary circus, jazz, new turns on absolute classics and so much more await the audiences which have been flocking to the well established festival for many years now.
RhineBuzz has two tickets to give away for the intriguing performance of force, man, machine and music:
RhineBuzz has two tickets to give away for the intriguing performance of force, man, machine and music:
To win send me an email at win@rhinebuzz.com and tell us whay you would like to see this performance. The best answer to reach us by September 19 wins and will be announced here and on the RhineBuzz facebook page.
düsseldorf festival!
September 10 - 28
Festival Marquee on Burgplatz
and numerous venues around town
Expats Welcome Day Duesseldorf 2014
The city of Düsseldorf is hosting the Expats Welcome Day Duesseldorf 2014 on September 19 at the NRW-Forum, Düsseldorf.
This is a chance for you to find out more about the city and the services available especially for the expat community. Information on what to do in your leisure time for everyone, the whole family, children, singles, newcomers and those who have been here for a while will be on offer and there will be numerous people to speak to from the international schools, insurance advisors, expat clubs, language schools, recruitment consultants, relocation agencies, city guides and a whole lot more besides.
There will be presentations you can join as you please throughout the day.
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| Düsseldorf Marathon © Norbertt Wilhemi |
I will be giving a presentation for Düsseldorf Marketing and Tourism, a virtual tour of the city and then at 8:30pm in the evening RhineBuzz will be hosting a question and answers session. There will be plenty of ideas of what to do in your free time, we'll have goodies to give away, tour tickets, tickets for the performing arts, concert tickets, all sorts. To answers on employment in Germany, especially for the spouse who often finds it so difficult to find a place in the job market here, we will have Chris Pyak to answer your queries from Immigrant Spirit.
You can find the full schedule of presentations here.
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| The Ehrenhof with the Tonhalle and NRW-Forum on the right |
Expats Welcome Day Duesseldorf 2014
September 19 2014
1pm - 9pm
NRW-Forum
Ehrenhof 2
40479 Düsseldorf
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