Grisebach is thrilled to present two exhibitions with German photographer, Juergen Teller, opening on September 12th: “If You Pay Attention” and “Araki Teller, Leben und Tod”.
“If You Pay Attention” was completed in collaboration with Dovile Drizyte, and features a series of photographs that were taken at the end of 2019 to the beginning of 2020, on an adventurous, heavenly, yet life-threatening journey through Iran and will be exhibited for the very first time.
Drizyte, Teller’s partner, wore a chador during a part of their trip and consequently discovered a new identity whilst following this dress code. Teller recalled how:
“I didn’t just want to take tourist pictures, I wanted to put something of myself or us into the pictures of Iran, but I didn’t know what or how in the beginning. At the same time, I haven’t yet quite found a way of photographing Dovile, my girlfriend. Sometimes it is difficult with people who are very close to you. It took me years to photograph my Mother.”
Next door, at Villa Grisebach, Teller will be presenting his new book, “Araki Teller, Leben und Tod” which was made in collaboration with the Japanese photographer, Nobuyoshi Araki. “Leben und Tod” is the culmination of their joint exhibition at artspace AM, Tokyo held at the end of 2019 and is published by Steidl.
This deeply personal project centres on Teller’s “Leben und Tod” (Life and Death) series, in which he reflects upon the death of his uncle and stepfather Artur. Teller juxtaposes photographs of his mother and their hometown in Bubenreuth, Bavaria with images from his journey in Bhutan with his partner, Dovile Drizyte that epitomize life and fertility.
Inspired by this series, Araki asked to photograph Teller’s “childhood memory objects”, items that carry special emotional significance to both him and his parents. Teller eagerly collected these personal treasures, gathering toys, a porcelain figurine, and bridges created in the family’s string instruments’ bridge-making workshop. Araki’s resulting images are haunting, yet playful, creating a spellbinding tale once paired with Teller’s original story.
Juergen Teller (1964, Erlangen, Germany) studied at the Bavarian State College for Photography in Munich before moving to London in 1986. Successful in both the art world and commercial photography, he has photographed campaigns for brands such as Celine, Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs and Vivienne Westwood and authored editorials for magazines such as Arena Homme Plus, Pop, Purple, System and W. In 2003 Teller was awarded the Citibank Prize for Photography and in 2018 the Special Presentation ICP Infinity Award. Major solo exhibitions of his work took place at the Garage Museum of Contemporary Art, Moscow (2018); Fotomuseum, Winterthur (2018); Martin-Gropius-Bau, Berlin (2017); Bundeskunsthalle, Bonn (2016); DESTE Foundation, Athens (2014); Institute of Contemporary Art, London (2013); Daelim Museum, Seoul (2011); Dallas Contemporary, Texas (2011); Le Consortium, Dijon (2010) and Fondation Cartier pour l’art Contemporain, Paris (2006). In 2007 he was invited to represent Ukraine as one of five artists at the 52nd Venice Biennale. Teller’s work has been acquired by numerous international collections, including the Center Pompidou, Paris, the Fondation Cartier pour l’art Contemporain, Paris, the International Center for Photography, New York, the National Portrait Gallery, London. Teller has published over 50 books and exhibition catalogues.
Press contact
Sarah Buschor
T +49 (0)30 885915 65
sarah.buschor@grisebach.com
Opening
Saturday, 12th September 2020, 11am to 6pm
Grisebach, Fasanenstrasse 25 and 27, 10719 Berlin
Exhibitions
Juergen Teller & Dovile Drizyte “If You Pay Attention”
Fasanenstrasse 27, 10719 Berlin
Exhibition until 7th November 2020
Mon to Fri 10am to 6pm, Sat 11am to 4pm
Juergen Teller “Araki Teller, Leben und Tod”
Fasanenstrasse 25, 10719 Berlin
Book launch and exhibition until 24th October 2020
Mon to Fri 10am to 6pm, Sat 11am to 4pm
Berlin, 4th September 2020