Wolfgang Tillmans: There were 30 years between 1943 and 1973. 30 years from 1973 was the year 2003

On the occasion of its 200th anniversary, the Kunstverein in Hamburg presents a solo show by Wolfgang Tillmans (*1968, Remscheid, lives and works in Berlin and London) featuring a new work that, consistently developed from his art of the past 30 years, transfers the various aspects of his work and thought to a spatial whole, which for the first time is not predominantly supported by photography.

It makes sense to do so in Hamburg, where Wolfgang Tillmans exhibited for the first time at the Café Gnosa in 1988 and began his first professorship at the HfbK Hamburg in 1998, and where the Deichtorhallen showcased his first survey exhibition in 2001. Moreover, in 2016 Tillmans released his first musical work, the record 2016 / 1986 EP, whose first tracks were recorded 30 years ago after moving from Remscheid to Hamburg to do civilian service. In general, the number 30 plays a big role, since the artist looks back on 30 years of artistic work, discovering parallels and search movements, and recalling the different ways he perceived and positioned himself as an artist. After two large retrospective shows this year at Tate Modern, London, and the Fondation Beyeler in Riehen near Basel, Wolfgang
Tillmans uses the format of the Kunstverein to reflect upon his status quo and that of society in a personal, but not autobiographical manner.

The exhibition is made possible through the kind support of the Department of Culture and Media of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, and the Winter Stiftung.

Press contact
Dilara Kubitzki: T +49 40 322158 / presse@kunstverein.de