The German contemporary art scene has produced the most influential photographers of the past decade. Artists such as Andreas Gursky are now internationally famous and dominate the acquisition lists of US museums. Part of this tendency is 39-year-old Thomas Demand from Munich. Louisiana MoMA showed some of his large-format photographs in its 2000 exhibition “Vision and reality” and is now showing a dedicated exhibition of his work with about 25 recent large photographs as well as a couple of his new 35 mm films (10 October-14 December). Demand’s photography is instantly recognisable for its slick texture, rich colour and the stark blandness of its subjects, evocative of both the high tedium and isolation of modern life. What distinguishes Demand from his contemporaries, however, is that his subjects—office spaces, airport lounges—may seem to be real, but are carefully constructed models. The viewer is only instinctively aware that they are inauthentic. A catalogue accompanies the show.
Originally appeared in The Art Newspaper as 'Thomas Demand, at Louisiana MoMA Humlebaek'