After August Sander

People of the 21st Century

28.1.–29.5.22

With his collection of portraits, People of the 20th Century, August Sander (1876–1964) produced a monumental life’s work that not only made photographic history but went on to influence generations of artists.

<p>After August Sander, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, August Sander, Portraits from „People of the 20th Century“, 1912-32, Contemporary Collection MGKSiegen, © Die Photographische Sammlung/SK Stiftung Kultur, Köln – August Sander Archiv; VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn, 2022, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer</p> — After August Sander, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, August Sander, Portraits from „People of the 20th Century“, 1912-32, Contemporary Collection MGKSiegen, © Die Photographische Sammlung/SK Stiftung Kultur, Köln – August Sander Archiv; VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn, 2022, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer

<p>After August Sander, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Work by Sandra Schäfer, Kontaminierte Landschaften, 2021, Courtesy the artist, © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2022, Hans Eijkelboom, Photo Notes, 1994-2022, Courtesy the artist, August Sander, Bauernpaar – Zucht und Harmonie, 1912, from „People of the 20th Century“, 1912-32, Sammlung Gegenwartskunst MGKSiegen, © Die Photographische Sammlung/SK Stiftung Kultur, Köln – August Sander Archiv; © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2022, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer</p> — After August Sander, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Work by Sandra Schäfer, Kontaminierte Landschaften, 2021, Courtesy the artist, © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2022, Hans Eijkelboom, Photo Notes, 1994-2022, Courtesy the artist, August Sander, Bauernpaar – Zucht und Harmonie, 1912, from „People of the 20th Century“, 1912-32, Sammlung Gegenwartskunst MGKSiegen, © Die Photographische Sammlung/SK Stiftung Kultur, Köln – August Sander Archiv; © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2022, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer

<p>After August Sander, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Work by Hans Eijkelboom, Photo Notes, 1994-2022, Courtesy the artist, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer</p> — After August Sander, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Work by Hans Eijkelboom, Photo Notes, 1994-2022, Courtesy the artist, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer

<p>Omer Fast, August, 2016, film still, Courtesy the artist, Photo: Stephan Ciupek/Filmgalerie 451</p> — Omer Fast, August, 2016, film still, Courtesy the artist, Photo: Stephan Ciupek/Filmgalerie 451

<p>After August Sander, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Work by Jos de Gruyter & Harald Thys, Madame Legrand, 2019, Courtesy the artists and Galerie Micheline Szwajcer, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer</p> — After August Sander, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Work by Jos de Gruyter & Harald Thys, Madame Legrand, 2019, Courtesy the artists and Galerie Micheline Szwajcer, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer

<p>After August Sander, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Work by Sharon Hayes, Ricerche: one, 2019, Courtesy the artist and Tanya Leighton, Berlin, © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn, 2022, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer</p> — After August Sander, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Work by Sharon Hayes, Ricerche: one, 2019, Courtesy the artist and Tanya Leighton, Berlin, © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn, 2022, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer

<p>After August Sander, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Work by Mohamed Bourouissa, La reserve, 2019, © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn, 2022, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer</p> — After August Sander, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Work by Mohamed Bourouissa, La reserve, 2019, © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn, 2022, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer

<p>After August Sander, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Work by Collier Schorr, Castle, 1994, Collier as Horst, 2021, Swimming Pool Eyes, 1996, A Possible Mutation, 1994, After Cindy Sherman, 1994, © the artist, Courtesy Stuart Shave/ Modern Art, London and 303 Gallery, New York, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer</p> — After August Sander, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Work by Collier Schorr, Castle, 1994, Collier as Horst, 2021, Swimming Pool Eyes, 1996, A Possible Mutation, 1994, After Cindy Sherman, 1994, © the artist, Courtesy Stuart Shave/ Modern Art, London and 303 Gallery, New York, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer

<p>After August Sander, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Work by Bouchra Khalili, The Tempest Society, 2017, Courtesy the artist, © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2022, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer</p> — After August Sander, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Work by Bouchra Khalili, The Tempest Society, 2017, Courtesy the artist, © VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2022, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer

<p>After August Sander, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Work by Tobias Zielony, Selection of: Curfew, 2001, Ha Neu, 2003, Quartier Nord, 2003, Big Sexyland, 2006,The Cast, 2007, Trona – Armpit of America, 2008, Manitoba, 2009–2011, Jenny Jenny, 2013, Golden, 2018, Courtesy the artist and KOW, Berlin, Artur Żmijewski, Dieter, Patricia, Ursula, 2007, © the artist, Courtesy Galerie Peter Kilchmann, Zürich and Foksal Gallery Foundation, Warschau, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer</p>

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<p> </p> — After August Sander, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Work by Tobias Zielony, Selection of: Curfew, 2001, Ha Neu, 2003, Quartier Nord, 2003, Big Sexyland, 2006,The Cast, 2007, Trona – Armpit of America, 2008, Manitoba, 2009–2011, Jenny Jenny, 2013, Golden, 2018, Courtesy the artist and KOW, Berlin, Artur Żmijewski, Dieter, Patricia, Ursula, 2007, © the artist, Courtesy Galerie Peter Kilchmann, Zürich and Foksal Gallery Foundation, Warschau, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer

<p>After August Sander, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Work by Ilya Lipkin, Untitled, 2019, Courtesy the artist and Lars Friedrich, Berlin, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer</p> — After August Sander, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Work by Ilya Lipkin, Untitled, 2019, Courtesy the artist and Lars Friedrich, Berlin, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer

<p>After August Sander, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Work by Soham Gupta, Untitled, from the series “Angst“(2013-17), Courtesy the artist, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer</p> — After August Sander, Exhibition view, MGKSiegen, Work by Soham Gupta, Untitled, from the series “Angst“(2013-17), Courtesy the artist, Photo: Philipp Ottendörfer

The photographer, who was born in Herdorf near Siegen, depicted professional groups and social classes for several decades. Altogether he collected more than 600 images in forty-five portfolios, organizing them into seven categories: The Farmer, The Skilled Tradesmen, The Woman, Classes and Professions, The Artists, The City (city dwellers), and The Last People, who were found on the fringes of society. A selection was first assembled in the publication “Face of Our Time” (1929). By working on a portrait of society during his time, Sander not only developed archetypal images but also aimed to study the nature of man in relation to his community.

“After August Sander” combines the work of the world-famous yet regionally-based photographer with a contemporary perspective of 13 artists. At the heart of the exhibition is a group of 70 large-format photographs that Sander compiled as late as the early 1960s, also for presentations in the Siegerland. As a gift from Barbara Lambrecht-Schadeberg to mark the MGKSiegen’s 20th birthday, these are now being shown here for the first time. Starting out from this important group of works, the exhibition directs attention towards portraits of people in the 21st century and initiates further examination of images showing contemporary types.
The artistic positions exhibited revitalise the work of August Sander both directly and indirectly. The deliberate leap in time of about 100 years visualises our changed views of life and new influences on the individual. Despite the historical reference, “After August Sander” does not stick exclusively to the medium of photography, but presents video installations and sculptures in a reflection of our times.

With contributions by
August Sander
Mohamed Bourouissa
Jos de Gruyter
& Harald Thys
Hans Eijkelboom
Omer Fast
Soham Gupta
Sharon Hayes
Bouchra Khalili
Ilya Lipkin
Sandra Schäfer
Collier Schorr
Tobias Zielony
Artur Żmijewski

Curator
Thomas Thiel

Exhibition kindly
supported by For supporting the educational
programme we would like to thank Cultural Partner