Wolfgang Tillmans Reflects on 20 Years of Photography and New Digital Explorations

Wolfgang Tillmans, the first photographic artist to win the Turner Prize, discusses his recent projects and artistic evolution in an interview. His major work Neue Welt, developed over years and showcased in a 2012 exhibition at Kunsthalle Zurich and a Taschen book, examines global changes through photographs taken with a digital camera during short trips to locations like Tasmania, India, and Lampedusa. Tillmans is currently presenting a large exhibition at K21 in Düsseldorf, running until 7 July 2013, alongside a show at Museo de Arte (MALI) in Lima until 16 June 2013. He reflects on his early work, including Edinburgh Builders (1987), created with his mother's camera and photocopies, exploring themes of transformation and value. Tillmans' shift to digital photography in 2009 allowed for new possibilities, such as capturing starry skies without manipulation, emphasizing his commitment to unaltered images. He discusses his ongoing interest in materiality, abstraction, and scale, noting that his work since 1998 has focused on the photograph as an object. Tillmans' projects, including Truth Study Center, address humanism and the perception of difference and similarity across cultures. The interview highlights his meticulous installation processes and the significance of print in an increasingly digital world.