Photo © Michael Koch
Talent of the Year 2020 - FINALIST: Michael Koch
left to my own devices
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The determing element in Michael Koch’s photographic work is transformation.
Private individuals change into role models who mingle with art historical and mass media patterns. This combination with private and public elements in pictures bother a kind of a psychological suspence opening the direction of motives of desire.
These “archetype role models” from dandy to diva, from hero to failure – refer to the personality of the performer which Koch examines in the process of explanation. The landscape motives in his pictures which are combined with the role portraits and object stills in a dialogue have the same topic. The real existing place or thing is not the subject, rather the section of landscape as scenes and projection fields.
His pictures often evoke a certain distance. Insects, stuffed animals, withered flowers, skin, disguised people – the uncanny and inherent beauty are all part of Koch`s reality. He is showing a construction of reality that thoroughly allows to tell beautiful lies.
About author:
1973
born in Braunschweig, lives and works in Düsseldorf, Germany.
1998-2004
studies of communication design
Universität Gesamthochschule Duisburg-Essen / Folkwang
class of Bernhard Prinz and Dr. Herta Wolf.
art and photography, history and theory of photography
2002
highly commended - John Kobal Photographic Portrait Award
National Portrait Gallery, London
2004
Diploma (Dipl.-Des.) - Universität Gesamthochschule Duisburg-Essen / Folkwang
I never promised you a rosegarden
2005
distinction at 7th Aenne-Biermann-Prize for german contemporary photography
2016
shortlisted Royal Photographic Society IPE 159
2017
Monochrome Photography Awards 2016 - Portrait - honorable mention
Nominee Award in Nature in the 2017 Photogrvphy Grant.
2018
the animal kingdom. L.A. Photo Curator, Global Photography Award - honorable mention
shortlisted Royal Photographic Society IPE 161
ND Awards 2018 / Nature - honorable mention
2019
Monochrome Photography Awards 2018 - Nature - honorable mention
Nominee Award in Nature - Fine Art Photography Awards, London
shortlisted Felix-Schoeller Photo Award 2019
ND Awards 2019 / fine art / conceptual - honorable mention
2020
Monochrome Photography Awards 2019 - conceptual - 2nd Place Winner / silver award
MonoVisions Photography Awards - conceptual - honorable mention
Minimalist Photography Awards - fine art - honorable mention
Michael Koch`s work is exhibited internationally.
Private individuals change into role models who mingle with art historical and mass media patterns. This combination with private and public elements in pictures bother a kind of a psychological suspence opening the direction of motives of desire.
These “archetype role models” from dandy to diva, from hero to failure – refer to the personality of the performer which Koch examines in the process of explanation. The landscape motives in his pictures which are combined with the role portraits and object stills in a dialogue have the same topic. The real existing place or thing is not the subject, rather the section of landscape as scenes and projection fields.
His pictures often evoke a certain distance. Insects, stuffed animals, withered flowers, skin, disguised people – the uncanny and inherent beauty are all part of Koch`s reality. He is showing a construction of reality that thoroughly allows to tell beautiful lies.
About author:
1973
born in Braunschweig, lives and works in Düsseldorf, Germany.
1998-2004
studies of communication design
Universität Gesamthochschule Duisburg-Essen / Folkwang
class of Bernhard Prinz and Dr. Herta Wolf.
art and photography, history and theory of photography
2002
highly commended - John Kobal Photographic Portrait Award
National Portrait Gallery, London
2004
Diploma (Dipl.-Des.) - Universität Gesamthochschule Duisburg-Essen / Folkwang
I never promised you a rosegarden
2005
distinction at 7th Aenne-Biermann-Prize for german contemporary photography
2016
shortlisted Royal Photographic Society IPE 159
2017
Monochrome Photography Awards 2016 - Portrait - honorable mention
Nominee Award in Nature in the 2017 Photogrvphy Grant.
2018
the animal kingdom. L.A. Photo Curator, Global Photography Award - honorable mention
shortlisted Royal Photographic Society IPE 161
ND Awards 2018 / Nature - honorable mention
2019
Monochrome Photography Awards 2018 - Nature - honorable mention
Nominee Award in Nature - Fine Art Photography Awards, London
shortlisted Felix-Schoeller Photo Award 2019
ND Awards 2019 / fine art / conceptual - honorable mention
2020
Monochrome Photography Awards 2019 - conceptual - 2nd Place Winner / silver award
MonoVisions Photography Awards - conceptual - honorable mention
Minimalist Photography Awards - fine art - honorable mention
Michael Koch`s work is exhibited internationally.