Bert Loewenherz

Bert LoewenherzThe Painterly Gesture in Photography

The Painterly Gesture in Photography

“Searching for freedom within the mechanical process” – That is how thephotographer Bert Loewenherz describes his unconventional portrait,nudes and self-portraits, in which heseparates all the possibilities of hismedium, thereby opening the borders of “pure photography.”In different phases of the photographicprocess, he interrupts the rigid processof taking a photograph and works itinto a painterly intervention.

Image Victory

In the portraits, the photographer translates the energy of his models intoa dynamic motion. With vehementpaintbrush strokes, or through the useof developing chemicals, certain aspectsof the picture intensifies and a dialoguebetween the developed and undevelopedparts of the face occurs, an unyieldingreality turns into phantasy, impressionsbecome expressions.

Ode to Rodin

The 120cm x 160cm large color nudeseries is a debate with sculpture. The pictures partially painted afterwards,are employed in the spirit, time and tradition of Rodinesque statues. Theyare a partly closer, and freer interpretationof chosen works.

From the Air

The self-portraits are a certain wideningof “photographic moments” through theuse of a time exposure, the open shutterof the camera traces the drawn light ofa pen-flashlight through the air.

Bert LoewenherzImage Victory

12 Photographic worksBlack & White Prints

50 x 60 cmBerlin 1985

Bert LoewenherzOde to Rodin

12 Photographic worksC Prints mounted and framed

120 x 160 cmBerlin 1984

Bert LoewenherzFrom the air - selfportraits

24 Photographic worksPrinted on Baryt Paper

30 x 30 cmBerlin 1987

Bert LoewenherzPortraits d’artistes

Portraits d'artistes

The photographer staged some of his artist friends.Composing in a quadrat format (6x6) became a new aesthetic expression forthe photographer since the midst of the 80s.

Bert LoewenherzPortraits d’artistes

12 Photographic worksPrinted on Baryt Paper

30 x 30 cmBerlin 1984 - 1990

Bert Loewenherz

12 Photographic worksPrinted on Baryt Paper

30 x 30 cmBerlin 1984 - 1990

Portraits d’artistes

Bert LoewenherzLifelines

Lifelines

The work presented here is in 24 sepa-rate pictures, in which the photographerpositions the portrait, and the hand ofthe person facing opposite each other inthe form of a diptych.The result is a psychological photogramwith strong sculptural potential. Whatthe face doesn’t say, the hands do. Andthe exchange in this relationship pro-duces its own dyamics.The series was distinguished with theKodak Portrait Prize and the HasselbladFine Art Award, and also represented inthe Polaroid Collection in the USA, thecollection of Fritz Huber in Germany,and in the National Library (BibliothequeNationale) in Paris, France.

Bert LoewenherzLifelines

12-part Conceptual Photographic works. DiptychsPrinted on Baryt Paper

30 x 30 cm je BildBerlin 1989 - 1991

Bert LoewenherzLifelines

12-part Conceptual Photographic works. DiptychsPrinted on Baryt Paper

30 x 30 cm je BildBerlin 1989 - 1991

Bert LoewenherzEpitaphs

Epitaphs

The models were asked to compose theirown gravestone inscriptions, and thento write it down on a plaque. The photographer integrates the use ofbreathing and relaxation exercises withthe models for the first time, as part ofthe sitting.

Bert LoewenherzEpitaphs

12-part Conceptual Photographic works. DiptychsPolaroid Image Transfers

4 x 5 inch je BildBerlin 1996

Bert LoewenherzEpitaphs

12-part Conceptual Photographic works. DiptychsPolaroid Image Transfers

4 x 5 inch je BildBerlin 1996

Bert LoewenherzIcons

Icons

Documentation of the formative YouthMovements of the ‘90’s and a studyabout the self similarity of peer groups: Feed-back from the sub-culture epoch,the artificial creation of new styles, either through the youths themselves,or through the media. In the 90’s youthculture smoothly made a transition intoart products. The photography looks at the changingeffects of the sub-culture and a post-modern lifestyle, at the same time.

Bert LoewenherzIcons

36 Photographic worksC-Prints

60 x 80 cmBerlin 1996 -1999

Bert LoewenherzIcons

36 Photographic worksC-Prints

60 x 80 cmBerlin 1996 -1999

Bert LoewenherzHidden Image

Hidden Image

This is a study about the asymmetry ofthe human face. The use of a mirror to reflect both facial halves, shows theamazing differentiations. Neurobiologyexplains that the cause for this lies within both hemispheres of the humanbrain.

Bert LoewenherzHidden Image

24-part Conceptual Photographic works. TriptychsC-Prints

4 x 5 inch each photoBerlin 2006

Bert LoewenherzHidden Image

24-part Conceptual Photographic works. TriptychsC-Prints

4 x 5 inch each photoBerlin 2006

Bert LoewenherzSamsara

Samsara

This work of portraits made some unusualdemands of its models, who were not allowed to wash themselves for 3 days,and not to sleep the night before theshooting. In order to increase the sense of beingout of control, and to give the impressionof being unkempt, they were then givenworn-out clothing and asked to freelyexpress their darkest thoughts, and unfiltered negative emotions before arolling camera.

All of the affects, like anger, sadness, fear, and aggression were authentic andevident in the body language.At the end of this virtually-therapeutic sitting, the photographer made one picture in a more relaxed state, which ispresented here.The term ‘Samsara’ originates from Buddhist philosophy and refers to the“Cycle of Existence” and how Man,owing to his sense of self-importance,perceives the World.

Bert LoewenherzSamsara

24 Photographic worksLambda Fine Art Prints

90 x 120 cmBerlin 2008

Bert Loewenherz

24 Photographic worksLambda Fine Art Prints

90 x 120 cmBerlin 2008

Samsara

Bert LoewenherzThe Eyes of Frida Kahlo

The Eyes of Frida Kahlo

A costly Art-and-Exhibition project thatconcerns itself with the self-portraits ofMexican art icon Frida Kahlo.The photographer adds: “It was a greatchallenge for the entire team, to dissectFrida’s strong works, and solve the puzzles – all the surreal, hidden, andsymbolic levels of her work in order totranslate it photographically.”A 20-minute video on the making of“The Eyes of Frida Kahlo” documents thebackground history of how the projectcame into being.

The camera provides a glimpse behindthe curtain to observe the exciting processes involved in composing theseportraits, and the intricate psychologicalwork between photographer and modelduring the final three days of the shoot.In a different video, the photographerspeaks in an interview about his personalmotivation for this project, how findingthe right model presented so many difficulties, and why he considers FridaKahlo to be a Shaman of the arts.

Bert LoewenherzThe Eyes of Frida Kahlo

24 Photographic worksC–Prints

Various Sizes Berlin 2010

Bert Loewenherz

24 Photographic worksC–Prints

Various Sizes Berlin 2010

The Eyes of Frida Kahlo

Bert LoewenherzOriginal & Copy

Original & Copy

The portrait gallery of Velasquez, Coello,Del Mazo, and other Spanish Realismpainters served as a model for this series.The goal was to create a modern inter-pretation of the original painting, andinfuse it with a lively contemporary feeling.

Bert LoewenherzOriginal & Copy

12-part Conceptual Photographic worksC-Prints

80 x 120 cmBerlin 2011

Bert LoewenherzOriginal & Copy

12-part Conceptual Photographic worksC-Prints

80 x 120 cmBerlin 2011

Bert Loewenherz

Exhibitions

Private Thursday, Berlin 2013 Art Directors Club, Berlin 2008 Photokina, Koln 2004 HeiligGeistKirche, Frankfurt 2002 Staatsbank, Berlin 2001Art Directors Club, Berlin 1999 Internationale Fototage, Herten 1999 Galerie U Recickych, Prag 1998 Galerie KunstNetzWerk, Munchen 1998 PPS Galerie, Berlin 1996Photokina, Koln 1994Galerie 77, Berlin 1992 Photographers Gallery, London 1990 October Gallery, London 1989

Atelier MooGreen, Berlin 2012 Art Directors Club, Berlin 2007 Art Directors Club, Berlin 2003 Einstein, Munchen 2002Art Directors Club, Berlin 2000Selbach Galerie, Berlin 1999ESD Galerie, Berlin 1999Photokina, Koln 1998Deutsche Fototage, Frankfurt 1996 Museum fur virtuelle Kunst, Erfurt 1995 Deutsche Fototage, Frankfurt 1993 Kulturstiftung Schloss Britz, Berlin 1991 PhotoArt, Heidelberg 1990Galerie Frank Muller, Berlin 1987

Galerie Photo Edition, Berlin 2010Art Directors Club, Berlin 2004 Mahnmal St. Nikolai, Hamburg 2002 Art Directors Club, Berlin 2002Month of Photography, Bratislava 2000 Kunstamt Reinickendorf, Berlin 1999 Zoofestsale, Wuppertal 1999Stiftung Starke im Lowenpalais, Berlin 1998Photokina Kodak Galerie, Koln 1996Salon of Photographic Art, Rovigno 1995 Museo di Fotografia Contemporanea, Brescia 1993Historisches Museum, Frankfurt 1991Arts & Technology Museum, Milano 1989

Awards

Midas Award of Excellence, New YorkArt Directors Club Europe AwardKodak Gold Circle AwardKodak Talents AwardScholarship by the Cinematheque Francaise, ParisHonorary appointment into the German Photographic SocietyOBS Award Corporate Communication. Hasselblad Fine Art AwardKodak Portrait AwardBerlin Artists FundInvitation by the Goethe Instituts, Paris

Collections

Collection Bibliotheque Nationale, FranceThe Polaroid Collection, USAThe Lorenzo Merlo Collection, ItalyThe Fritz Huber Collection at Museum Ludwig, Germany The Hand Collection Prof. Dr. Vaubel, GermanyThe Bert Hartkamp Collection, Netherlands Collection Machiel Botmann, NetherlandsCollection Deutsche Fototage, GermanyCollection Kunst & Bild, GermanyCollection Museo di Fotografia Contemporanea, Italy

Bert Loewenherz

Clients

American Express AOKAGFA Gevaert ArwobauBASFBausch & Lomb PharmaBVGBerliner Feuersozietaet VersicherungBundesverband Elektromobilität Caterpillar / MVS ZeppelinCalida Underwear International Design Zentrum NRWDebitel – MobilcomDemmin & SohnDeTeWeDeutsches PelletinstitutDeutsche Radio PhilharmonieEngel & VoelkersEnglish National Opera

FAZFiege InternationalFriend Scout 24GangwayGlunz DeutschlandGropius Passagen Grundkreditbank – Koepeniker Bank Getraenke HoffmannHugendublIkon AGIdeal VersicherungJazz Radio Berlin Johanniter – Unfall – Hilfe Kodak AGKonzerthausorchester BerlinLBSMercedes Benz AGMCM WorldwideMention Softwear GmbH

Mondial Holding AGRelexa HotelsRoche PharmaSamsung ElectronicsSkoda ModenSharp ComputerStern MagazineSony Entertainment GmbH Tupperware GmbHTotal Mineraloel AGT-MobileUllstein VerlagVattenfall Europe AGVerband der Privaten Bausparkassen VW GedasWoolworth AGYoc AGYonity Sportswear

Bert Loewenherz