The photographer Konrad Rufus Müller (*1940 in Berlin) is a master of portraiture, and especially known for his access to people in front of his camera and his way of presenting them. Though, portraiture is only one genre in which the so-called “photographer of the chancellors“ excels. Müller´s interpretations of landscapes and objects between light and shade, which are as unusual as his portraits, have been less known so far.
With “Realm of the Shades“, the Berlin-based gallery Pinter & Milch discloses the so far undiscovered side of Konrad Rufus Müller. The mystic but also dreamy images evoke associations of power and violence. Being intense as well as poetic, they cast a spell on the viewer.
The still lifes, urban and mountain landscapes, primarily presented in triptychs, will be complemented by nine iconic portraits. Among them, the famous Adenauer portrait that constitutes the starting point for the artist’s exploration of powerful or extraordinary people whose personality Müller is capturing beyond the public eye. Amongst others, portraits of Anwar el-Sadat (former Egyptian president), Oskar Müller (Konrad Rufus´ father), and the actress Martina Gedeck will be displayed.
Müller´s characteristic visual language results from his unusual access as well as from his unique way of working –intentional and minimalistic. He has been using b/w film only and working with just one type of camera: until 1975 , the old Rolleiflex of his father ,and with a follow-up model ever since. For shooting the right picture, Müller merely works with „available light“. The fact that Müller did not produced more than 3,000 works in the past 50 years brilliantly exemplifies how careful he was of his possibilities.
Realm of the Shades
Photographs by Konrad Rufus Müller
January 19th – March 16th, 2013
Pinter & Milch
Auguststraße 49
10119 Berlin
Germany
