Hubertus Hamm – Untitled
By means of cutting and layering multiple photographs, Hubertus Hamm transforms the two-dimensional medium of photography into works that extend into three-dimensional space.
Our exhibition presents a new series of photographic layerings. The point of departure for these works are images of snow-covered branches. By layering multiple identical photographs congruently and then tearing away the upper layers, Hubertus Hamm reveals previously hidden layers. This creates a three-dimensional, relief-like structure, drawing attention to the materiality of the medium paper, whilst at the same time mirroring the motif – the layers of snow-covered branches – in an almost mimetic manner.
In his work, Hubertus Hamm (b. 1950) engages intensively with our experience of space. Trained as a photographer, he departs from the beaten track of classical photography, often even forgoing the medium in which he was originally schooled. By cutting and layering multiple photographs, Hamm transforms the two-dimensional medium of photography into works that expand into and actively shape three-dimensional space.
The exhibition presents a new series of photographic layerings. The point of departure for these works are images of snow-covered branches. By layering multiple identical photographs congruently and then tearing away the upper layers, Hubertus Hamm reveals previously hidden strata. This process produces a relief-like, three-dimensional structure that draws attention to the materiality of paper itself, while simultaneously mirroring the motif—the overlapping layers of snow-covered branches—in an almost mimetic manner.
These wall-bound works are accompanied by a selection of Molded Mirrors, stainless steel sculptures that stand freely in space or are oriented toward the wall in a pictorial manner. The Molded Mirrors are stainless steel sheets that are first deformed by the artist using raw mechanical force and then treated with a special coating to produce highly reflective, glossy surfaces. These objects sensitively mirror their surroundings, prompting viewers to repeatedly reassess their visual perception of the work in space.
Hubertus Hamm’s works are exhibited internationally, including at the Pinakothek der Moderne in Munich and the Juan Art Museum in Beijing (2015). Permanent installations of his work can be found at the Allianz Arena in Munich and at acatech, the German National Academy of Science and Engineering, also in Munich.
