THE EXHIBITION
Sven Marquardt returns to the Philippines for his first solo exhibition of photography in the country.
“FUTURE’S PAST” is a collection of black and white portraits that present an examination of humanity with intense themes running through the timeless images—30 years in the making.
The exhibition is laid out as a narrative, telling an intimate story about Berlin locals. Marquardt’s work suggests an inextricable connection between the future and the past, through his dark and industrial photographs which immediately captures one’s attention. In this exhibition, Marquardt offers balanced compositions together with an unshakeable tension felt through the piercing stares of his subjects as the focus of his works has always been on people. At different sites he draws attention to the figures, which become strong and confident characters, or situations drawn by fragility, melancholy and gentleness. Marquardt works exclusively in black and white, with natural light and analogue photo equipment. He deliberately maintains the tension and sees how the photos turn out only after the development of the film and some days of waiting.
"Future's Past" is brought to Manila by the Goethe-Institut Philippinen, the German Cultural Center, in partnership with the Yuchengco Museum. It opens on June 29, 7:00 PM at Yuchengco’s Bridgeway Foyer Gallery & Cone Room. The night will feature a short discussion and Q&A with the artist.
The exhibit runs until August 11.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Sven Marquardt was born in 1962, just a year after the construction of the infamous Berlin Wall. He grew up in East Berlin of the communist German Democratic Republic (GDR) and got involved in the punk scene during his youth. He ran into trouble with the GDR authorities often enough that soon, he was banned from Mitte, the city’s central district.
Marquardt began his career in photography during the early 1980’s in East Berlin. Photographs taken during the height of his involvement in punk offers an extensive documentation of GDR’s subculture at the time. After his education as a photographer and camera man, he found a mentor in the person of Helga Paris. Herself a photographer and a social critic, Paris helped him shape his photography and find his own style.
Starting out as camera assistant and later as a fashion photographer, Marquardt found himself immersed in Berlin’s techno club scene, shooting images that capture the heart and soul of the era, of the subculture in which he himself was entrenched.
In addition to his creative portfolio, the name Sven Marquardt is synonymous to Berlin’s most exclusive nightclub, Berghain, where he had worked as a doorman for many years. A cavernous dance club, Berghain saw its popularity rise in the mid-2000s propelled by its notorious exclusivity and strict adherence to good techno music. Within just a few years after it opened, people have been dubbing Berghain as the “mecca of techno music”. The association with Berghain, his photography and his distinct appearance elevated Marquardt into a cult figure in Berlin.
Sven Marquardt has since been travelling around the globe for his exhibitions. He has published several books, worked with established brands and renowned institutions such as the photography school Ostkreuzschule and the Ernst Busch Academy of Dramatic Art.
OPENING NIGHT x ARTIST'S TALK
June 29, 2017
6PM - 9PM
EXHIBITION
June 29 - August 11, 2017
10AM - 6PM
"FUTURE'S PAST" is organized by the
Goethe-Institut, and the
Yuchengco Museum.
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