Marcus Schaefer joins the Kahmann Gallery
© Marcus Schaefer
Written by: Hana Kaneko
Copy Edited by: Ben Blavat
Marcus Schaefer, the London-based photographer and film director, is the latest artist to join the Kahmann Gallery in Amsterdam.
Formed in 2005, the Kahmann Gallery has an established tradition of showcasing vintage Dutch photography and maintains a large print collection. Since its founding, the gallery has expanded its purview to feature international talent and young artists. It now represents about 30 photographers from around the world.
© Marcus Schaefer
Schaefer’s practice combines the classic aesthetic of fashion photography with underlying themes of landscape, sculpture and painting. He plays with the architecture of his photographs by pulling sections out of focus, adjusting tone and blurring outlines in his work. Schaefer expertly utilizes long exposure and magnifiers to add perspective and draw in the viewer.
The photographs highlighted in the gallery traverse the metaphysical and the imaginative. A mix of fashion shots parallel close-up portraits and abstract scenes, creating a beautiful series of imperfect interpretations. His skilled interplay of shadow, depth and light results in an ethereal series of images.
© Marcus Schaefer
Schaefer elevates his photographs out of the binary of black and white, transforming them into abstract, multidimensional experiences. Instead of a cold and distant detachment, his work projects warmth and vulnerability. Schaefer has said that he is dedicated to challenging the notion that black-and-white photography is outdated and less expressive than color. He aims to convey his emotions through a monochrome lens.
© Marcus Schaefer
