Heinz und Edith, die zwei vor der pinken Wand. Photo: Christoph Neumann
No one could fit better to Berlin Fashion Week these days than Christoph Neumann. His explosive, energetic and versitile portfolio stands for pure life energy, speed and spontaneity. His portfolio is specialized on portraits, fashion and creative lifestyle. However, the talk took quite the opposite way, focusing on raising the awareness of the transformation and consumption of photography as a medium that evokes the need to live in a slower environment…
We make the hype. Photo: Christoph Neumann
Sie leben. Photo: Christoph Neumann
You studied photo design at Fachhochschule Dortmund and recently moved to Berlin. The focus of your work is the human being and a documentary about the zeitgeist we live in. The Rolling Stones, GusGus, The Subways, Blumentopf, Thomas D, The Vivian Girls, Deichkind and famous german poetry slammer Sebastian 23 already appeared in front of your camera. How do you find your models?
I’ve tried to work in all directions during my studies in Dortmund. Then it became clear to me that I am mostly interested in people, and of course it’s visible in my artistic portfolio. In my art work there are mostly friends or people I find inspiring, musicians, creative people that I know and that are spontaneously involved. Sometimes I randomly ask people to participate, because I always take a lot of initiative. In other occasions, I am sent by a magazine, company or agency for a job. Often, while doing the job, I get to know these people even better. I come closer to them or we eventually become friends. It’s a big compliment when they want to continue working with me even when it comes to unconventional portraits or artistic projects. Especially with celebrities, including fashion designers, artists and musicians who are in the spotlight. It’s interesting to look behind the surface and see the human underneath, to get to know what motivates them and their points of view. My main goal is to capture a certain charisma and a special moment in my images. On the one hand, pictures can be very quiet and profound, on the other hand, they can explode and be powerful and energetic. That’s exactly like life is, and so are the people that I take pictures of.
Blumentopf. Photo: Christoph Neumann
Lifafly, Tatjana Blecker. Photo: Christoph Neumann.
what happens, happens london, budapest, paris, berlin 2011. Photo: Christoph Neumann
Elvis aka. Jimmy, German imitator. Photo: Christoph Neumann
In your work you are pointing out the spirit of a young generation. You are documenting a very special feeling. How would you describe it and what inspires you to capture this special moments?
I am especially inspired by creative people and what makes their heart beat. I’m also intreted in their feelings and the active and passive exchange of ideas with them. This may also mean that I observe interesting details and exciting situations in my daily routine. Additionally, fire, visual arts, the sky, absurd things and special moments in life inspire me. Music always triggers pictures and colors in me, this energy is what I call my incitement. It’s undeniable for my work to feel this energy while I take pictures. As my philosophy, in life there is no stagnation. Stagnation means death and life always goes up and down. Sometimes life is filled with pain, sometimes life feels like you’re totally exploding on cloud nine and you are flying there with a homemade rocket. I always try to capture these different energies in my photography. Spontaneous actions often result in great pictures and I love to give them a little wink. Really, it’s always just a question of whether the feeling is there or not, otherwise it will not work out.
Copyright, www.christoph-neumann.com, Christoph Neumann, Photography, Art
Copyright, www.christoph-neumann.com, Christoph Neumann, Photography, Art
Copyright, www.christoph-neumann.com, Christoph Neumann, Photography, Art
Copyright, www.christoph-neumann.com, Christoph Neumann, Photography, Art
Tell us something about your work “Der Paliettenknopf über dem Felsenmeer” (“The paliette button above the rocky sea”)! Looks very interesting!
I am kind of obsessed with the romantic era in painting. This work combines romantic poetry of Joseph von Eichendorff with the concept of contemporary fashion. The depiction of a mash-up, which also embodies a romantic longing in fashion, shows a romantic story combined with fashion today. In this artwork I have worked with professional models, but also with friends of mine. In this work, colour play an important role. I play with colour, consciously placing accents and contrasts. The book consists of several chapters that were photographically converted according to the mood of the text. Then I experimented with the classical romantic arched format and used some quotes of images by Caspar David Friedrich, in order to express the romantic desire for nature. The venues are in Lüdenscheid, which is my hometown. I have searched them my own and I even arranged the whole costume design. The project took about six months.
In another work called “The window in the Park” I tried to show the difference between human and nature. I projected shots of park and nature scenes onto old industrial buildings. I find impressive that piece by piece nature is conquering back these abandoned facilities. In the images I depict an utopia, which brings together two worlds. Even here you can feel my focus on romantic ideas.
Shepherd Mike & daughter Clara. Photo: Christoph Neumann
The Hirsch Effekt, German artcore & indie-rock band. Photo Christoph Neumann.
How did you start and how critical do you see the latest developments in digital culture and society?
Billy Lunn from The Subways. Gif by Christoph Neumann.
It all started with a skateboard ride when I was nine. If you start to jump down ten stairs, you want to document and capture the moment for yourself. Concerning photography, I come from the analog world, not only because I have studied it, but also because I have started with my father’s single-lens reflex camera. Today, unfortunately it seems that the discussion on photographs is completely over. Today you can easily put the buttons on Photoshop back and forth, but what happens when you do that, what it means, which process happens to the image, which happened earlier with the chemicals, is not reflected. The fine sensitive feeling for the photographs seems to have been lost. This is evident in other medias, such as the music industry: a whole music album can be downloaded and consumed in 50 seconds. But the reflection of its whole, the process of producing, the artists and their issues and beliefs unfortunately happens less and less and I think this is an unhealthy development. People need to consider whether they want to accelerate this planet faster and faster or just dedicate time to look at things. In addition, most creative people today want a big stage, but without ultimately giving something for it.
“If I want to be a photographer, then I’ll have to give before I take. That’s why I like to go into photography exhibitions, buying pictures of other photographers, buying magazines and picture books or giving photographers feedback on their work. Interaction within the medium of photography is very important to me.”
Old School Game Collector. Photo: Christoph Neumann
Your work has already been published in ZEIT Magazine Campus, Nido and recently in the current issue of Nude Album. You also won the close-up price of C|O Berlin and realized numerous exhibitions. What do you imagine for your future? As we can see in your portfolio, do you like moving images?
Jan le grow, german rock and blues musican. Photo: Christoph Neumann.
Photography is based on images and movies are made of several images, just played in quick succession. I originally wanted to study filming, so I’m always interested in what is going on. Film was always very complicated and photography can be realized with little resources. I am someone who works very quickly. I want to realize many ideas in my head so the environment of photography fits me very. Nevertheless, I am very open to the future, as film and photography is gradually turning into one. I experiment a lot with gifs, film and audio and surely there will be more in the future. I also think that exchange and communication are really important and I’m curious about what happens to the people who are now twenty years old. Therefore, I would also be interested in a teaching job at a university or school of photography. I like to give back experiences, that’s great!
How did you come across Artconnect Berlin?
One night, a clear and starry sky, a delicate little fairy flew through my window and brought me a package with a link to your fantastic site!
Thank you Christoph, you’re very welcome here in Berlin. I had a great time meeting you!
Christoph is using social media to spread his photography,
go to his Facebook Page, visit his private photo blog that is updated constantly, or
connect with him on Artconnect Berlin!
Works from series "Erinnern ohne Erinnerung". Photos: Christoph Neumann
Installation view: Erinnern ohne Erinnerung - Städtische Gallerie Lüdenscheid "Geschossen & Gedruckt". Photo: Christoph Neumann
in bloom | Fashion by Éric Étienne, Styling: tAka KasuMi, Assistant: Sven Diekhof. Photo: Christoph Neumann
3CC | Fashion by Sophie Nothnick-Moustafa (London) Make-Up: Alcox Make-Up Assistant: Marvin Klee, Bergwerk. Photo: Christoph Neumann
Alexander, der Große. Photo: Christoph Neumann
Nico Mares, German painter. Photo: Christoph Neumann
Das Fenster im Park. Photo: Christoph Neumann.
