+0

Reality or artificiality? Depicted nature doesn't automatically appear natural. The artist depicting natural scenery - the form of nature interpreted by him - chooses a scene from all kinds of landscapes which speaks to him the most. In the case of André Wagner already the choice alone is not so easy. He doesn't take fast photos, his pictures are not mere documentations of the places he comes across. He designs the depiction of the to be portrayed object.

On the basis of these attentive preparations André Wagner creates a portrait of nature, working with his objects like a fashion photographer works with his models. The result is not the everlasting image of nature, but a portrait which exceeds the mere image and reveals the outlook of the artist. Thus, the pictures of the photographer are findings of the earth. For this he has travelled far, in order to find places, which correspond to his conception of spatial aesthetics. New Zealand, India, France and Spain are but a few of the many countries, in which his pictures are taken. His pictures are philosophical reflections about the essence of life, space and time, man and nature, as well as impermanence and eternity.

For this mysterious imagery André Wagner reduces artificial elements or alternatively connects them in such a way, that the impermanence of creation becomes visible in nature. He is has a preference for taking photos of landscapes. The natural and also artificial light is of fundamental importance in his works. Light and time are methods of design, which help to visually decode the hidden emotions in the setting. We can see this in particular in the night shots. Mostly unnoticed at a first glance, bit by bit one can spot traces of unnatural light and the movements of the stars in the long exposure photographs. Sometimes the fantastic, volcanic light is generated by a small candle and sometimes light and fire halos appear on the pictures. The artist refers to these fire installations as self-portraits. His photos can also be interpreted as romantic fantasy landscapes. Finally, he obtains a perfect harmony between the real and the desired world.

ZOLTÁN SOMHEGYI