In 2010 and 2016 he was nominated for the prix pictet photography award. He rids his pictures of any context, such above or the earth below, and rarely includes people, either. In his project titled architecture of density, wolf is able to accurately capture the concentration of what it truly means to leave in a concrete jungle. Born in munich in 1954, wolf was raised in the united states, canada, and europe. A trip through one of the most densely populated areas of the world. German photographer michael wolf captures the aging highrise culture of hong kong, which has more buildings over five hundred feet tall than any other city in the world.
Apr 01, 20 the series is also available as a book entitled, architecture of density. In this series, wolf started studying the city of hong kong in a personal way after the sars outbreak in 2002. Michael wolf has lived there since 1994, and has seen the rapid growth in people and buildings first hand. In a city where the only way to build is up, michael wolf depicts the immensity of hong kongs architecture. Googles mapping tools spawn new breed of art projects. Given his continued output of interesting work, showing. Michael wolf architecture of density 2017 description michael wolf architecture of density 2017 architecture, art, photography quantity. One of the most densely populated metropolitan areas in the world, hong kong has an overall density of nearly 6,700 people per square kilometer. Slight rubbing to top right corner of front cover see photo.
Search for library items search for lists search for. Architecture of density photographs bymichael wolf lensculture. Wolfs life was international from the getgo, starting out in 1954 in munich then growing up in the us and canada, before returning to. This was michael in a nutshell, curious about life, art and photography, a sensitive observer who perceived the world. Germanborn photographer michael wolf documents the extreme densities of hong kong. Architecture of densitymichael wolf inhabitat green. I bundled up wife and son and sent them back to germany and i stayed in hong kong and started working on. As many people became sick and others left the city, it dawned on wolf that. These surreal photos of hong kongs aging towers arent doctored. Depictions of architectural density in hong kong twistedsifter. Michael wolf captures the wall of densely populated apartment buildings in the chinese metropolis. And wherever he was could be all over the world, from hong kong to france, and from the united states to china, usually in the big cities in these countries.
Photographer michael wolf, whose images celebrated life in. Michael wolf architecture of density stand alone volume. What distinguishes him from others is his acute ability to find the symbolic value in those seemingly. This book has been published before as part of the two book set hong kong inside outside, which is completely sold out. Wolf is survived by his wife, barbara, and son, jasper. An image of hong kong from architecture of density, 2009, by michael wolf. Apr 25, 20 in architecture of density, photographer michael wolf captures stunning urban vistas of one of the most populated cities on earth. If his little guides to the most unusual uses of hong kongs back alleys is a sort of loving and amused diary, is in fact with architecture of density that wolf, who had already won the world press photo twice in 2005 and 2010, gained international recognition, bringing him to the nomination for the prestigious prix pictet, again in. Vertigoinducing photos of hong kong housing show just how. Wolf was also shortlisted for the 2010 prix pictet on the theme of growth with architecture of density. It is published by pepperoni books and features 128 pages of incredible imagery.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. In his architecture of density photo series, german photographer michael wolf explores the jawdropping urban landscapes of hong kong. In his architecture of density photo series, german photographer michael wolf explores the jawdropping city skylines of hong kong. Michael wolf specializes in taking photos of people living in cities like tokyo and hong kong.
Jan 24, 2016 michael wolf architecture of density michael wolf michael wolfs photography is that of an outsider. Michael wolf architecture of density photography magazine. Depicting the dense urban structure of hong kong, michael wolfs photographs first emerged in the 1990s wolf went to live in 1994 the photographs depict the vibrant city of hong kong from an inimitable perspective and the architecture of density series veers between the inhuman size and monolithic repetition of the citys housing units complexes and the intimate details of the lives lived. May 02, 2019 an image of hong kong from architecture of density, 2009, by michael wolf. Michael wolf photographs crumbling buildings in need of repair, brand new. Now architecture of density comes in a new edition as a stand alone book. Architecture of density is the republished version of hong kong outside, which was part of the two book set hong kong inside outside. For more fascinating photography, be sure to check out michael wolfs extensive portfolio at. Farewell to michael wolf, photographer of urban densities. Michael wolf explains the vision behind his hong kong photo series. Despite having lived eight years in the city as a photojournalist for the german magazine stern, he had never completed a personal project. Wolf has been intensively concerned with the topic of vernacular culture for many years. Michael wolf has 73 books on goodreads with 1090 ratings. Real fake pictures and architecture of density, gallerie wouter van leeuwen, amsterdam solo 2007 two photographers in a dialog, michael wolf and stephen canham, hallische gallerien, dresden, germany 2006 architecture of density, hasted hunt, new york city, new york 2006 made in china, museum of contemporary photography, chicago, illinois 2005.
Born in germany, raised in the united states and canada, returning to germany to study photography before spending the vast majority of his career in asia, his work defies categorization. Apr 26, 2019 his most wellknown work is the 2009 book architecture of density, where he turned his lens on the citys tall buildings. Michael wolf, courtesy of flowers gallery fri 26 apr 2019 12. Focused on the specific visual elements michael wolf has depicted high density living in one of the. Michael wolf architecture of density 2017 catawiki. The images are large scale flat captions of buildings which appear to be infinite and haunting in michael s photos. Photos from architecture of density to wolfs street view series will be exhibited. Copy art and 100 x 100, robert koch gallery, san francisco, ca. Architecture of density is the photographers examination of the city and its buildings, one in which the context is largely removed and the scale is only understandable when viewed in relation to itself. Farewell to michael wolf, photographer of urban densities and. Architecture of density the outside volume of hong kong. Books by michael wolf author of chinese propaganda posters.
As many people became sick and others left the city, it. In architecture of density, german photographer michael wolf takes the massive, busy city of hong kong and narrows it down to the smaller details of its highrise apartment buildings. The series is also available as a book entitled, architecture of density. Conscientious extended a conversation with michael wolf. Architecture of density the outside volume of hong. Photographer michael wolf, whose images celebrated life in hong kong.
Within a few days, an important retrospective will open at the the hague museum of photography, showing works from his earliest years to recent series. These surreal photos of hong kongs aging towers arent. His series architecture of density rarely contain images of people, instead letting the extreme scale of the buildings remain as the focus. Apr 26, 2019 wolf is survived by his wife, barbara, and son, jasper. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Michael wolf explains the vision behind his hong kong photo. Michael wolf, whose photos of hong kong showed its density. The photographer michael wolfs study of hong kong, the architecture of density, began with the sars outbreak in 2002. In architecture of density, wolf investigates these vibrant city blocks, finding mesmerizing abstractions in the buildings facades. His most recent work, deals with the issue of the cultural identity of the city of hong kong. Oct 16, 20 the photographer michael wolf s study of hong kong, the architecture of density, began with the sars outbreak in 2002. Oct 01, 2012 buy michael wolf architecture of density stand alone volume of hong kong inside outside 3rd edition by wolf, michael isbn. Stunning and sobering, the photographs of highrise apartment buildings in hong kong by german photographer michael wolf reveal his personal fascination with life in megacities. Michael wolf won first prize in the world press photo competition in 2005 and 2010 and received an honourable mention in 2011.
This book is the republished version of hong kong outside, which was part of the two book set hong kong inside outside. Buy michael wolf architecture of density stand alone volume of hong kong inside outside 3rd edition by wolf, michael isbn. Architecture of density photographs bymichael wolf. For the book architecture of density, michael wolf fashioned a distinctive style of photography. Michael wolf, who photographed skyscrapers minus the sky.
Michael wolf, photographer, 19542019 british journal of. Architecture of density the outside volume of hong kong insideoutside hardcover december 17, 2014. In architecture of density, photographer michael wolf captures stunning urban vistas of one of the most populated cities on earth. Michael wolf has published his photo series that explore interesting aspects of the urban phenomena in more than 30 photo books, including his celebrated series architecture of density, insideoutside 2009, real fake art peperoni. Having lived there for several years, wolf began to document hong kongs extreme development and complex urban dynamics. The majority of its citizens live in flats in highrise buildings.
Hong kong architecture of density by michael wolf archeyes. The majority of his work features daily life in suburban landscapes. Hong kong is filled to the brim with over 7 million people, and with land at a premium, the city builds up, not out. Wolfs project architecture of density features mesmerizing, abstract photos of hong kong apartment buildings images that highlight. Stunning and sobering, the photographs of highrise apartment buildings in hong kong by german photographer michael wolf reveal his personal fascination. This book is the republished version of hong kong outside, which. By eliminating the sky and cropping in on just specific sections of the buildings, wolf transforms the repetitive rows of mesmerizing patterns and textures throughout the city into flat abstractions. Architecture of density audio interview and photographs of the artist. Michael wolfs most popular book is chinese propaganda posters. Michael wolf architecture of density michael wolf michael wolfs photography is that of an outsider. Just a little while later, michael published architecture of density largescale photos of some of those humongous apartment buildings in hong kong. Having lived there for several years, wolf began to document hong kongs. Wherever i am, i need to work photographically, michael wolf told bjp back on 04 march, 2011.
Below are a selection of wolfs photos of his home, hong kong. Using specific stylistic devices to eliminate horizon and sky, wolf creates a. Focused on the specific visual elements michael wolf has depicted high density living in one of the world s most crowded cities like nobody has before. Apr 11, 2020 michael wolf, a germanborn photographer, documents the density of the hong kong slums.
Photographer michael wolf creates highly detailed largescale views of highrise structures that are homes to millions in modern hong kong. The images are stunning, though im not quite sure how to react. With seven million people, hong kong is the 4th most densely populated places, sharing a myriad of tiny apartments, in the world. Michael wolfs work first caught my attention when i discovered his real toy story project a depiction of under which conditions the toys found in western toy stores are assembled.
He removes any sky or horizon line from the frame and flattens the space until it becomes a relentless abstraction of urban expansion, with no escape for the viewers eye. He rids his interesting photos of any context, such above or the earth below. May 03, 2019 wherever i am, i need to work photographically, michael wolf told bjp back on 04 march, 2011. These intriguing pictures show us the sale of the architecture in relation to the people of the city.