Art of bling
Bling stands for wealth and decadence. An exhibition in Dusseldorf shows how a generation of photographers is portraying the desire for luxury.
Bright is the new black
"Bling is when the yacht sinks and your hair still looks good," says the catalog to the "Bling Bling Baby!" exhibition at the NRW-Forum in Dusseldorf. These ladies, pictured in Hamburg, would fit right in. Bright colors and perfect styling have influenced many photographers in the show - including Esther Haase, who has worked with many fashion labels.
Baroque-like opulence
The exhibition begins - appropriately - with a look in the mirror. When entering "Bling Bling Baby!," visitors first see themselves surrounded by flowers, fruit and animals. A giant wall tapestry, designed by Katarina Stupavska, is reminiscent of the large-scale still lifes common in the baroque era. It incorporates the visitor into the picture - at least in the mirror.
Berlin nightlife
Carolin Saage went out on the town in Berlin and took her camera along. She was the only person allowed to take photos in the legendary techno club Bar 25, which closed in 2010. Saage spent seven years documenting life on and behind the dance floor. The result is a subjective love song to a past full of glitz and glamour.
Shining city
Italian photographer Olivo Barbieri makes Singapore shine. He travels around the world and photographs buildings by night. Barbieri works with a low depth of focus and a long exposure time to produce his images, a technique that makes this skyscraper in a wealthy part of Singapore look like it was drawn on the computer.
African bling
Moroccan-born photographer Hassan Hajjaj portrays the hipster scene in his home country by having his protagonists pose in stereotypical hip-hop positions. Bling isn't just a term for shiny jewelry, but was rapped about by B.G. in his legendary song about yachts, jewels and other status symbols.
Beauty that hurts
Photographer Daniel Sannwald gave his model, Sang Woo Kim, a gold nose. Beauty has long become an object of obsession. There are no taboos - and even a gold nose is possible. Sannwald dresses his protagonists up like mannequins, using jewelry as a second skin.
King of clichés
Photographer Martin Schoeller learned his trade in Berlin but works in the US. He studied with Annie Leibovitz, then made a name for himself with his "honest" portraits. He depicted Jeff Koons, an American artist, in a style that reflects his art - a king of kitsch with a crown of flowers on his head.
Here come the cyborgs
Andrew Weir, of South Africa, and Christto Sanz of Puerto Rico work together in Qatar. Their art plays with saturated colors, creating surreal scenes. The photographers are inspired by the lifestyle in the Gulf region, where money makes everything possible.