Götz Diergarten: Inside-Out / Outside-In
Götz Diergarten’s passion for glass—as both a semi-transparent medium and a creative element—was ignited during a project led by Wilhelm Opatz in collaboration with the German Werkbund. In that initiative, Diergarten photographed the ecclesiastical architecture of Frankfurt. It was through this work that he uncovered the rich visual potential of glass—whether it appears as fluted, ornamental, wire-infused, or in the form of glass blocks—and its remarkable ability to refract light and reinterpret reality in abstract ways. Later, still based in Frankfurt, he discovered similar structural motifs, notably within the housing developments of New Frankfurt, a project from the 1920s under the guidance of Ernst May.
The photographs that emerged from these explorations straddle the line between the tangible and the abstract. Depending on the viewing angle, lighting conditions, and background elements, they create formless color fields that recast familiar subjects in a fresh light, subtly diminishing the prominence of streets, trees, or architectural details. Diergarten’s window-like images evoke digital phenomena such as grids, pixels, and distortions, fostering a conversation between modern visual expression and traditional photography.
About the Author
Born in 1972, Götz Diergarten pursued studies in Fine Arts and Artistic Photography at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf under Professor Bernd Becher from 1993 to 1998, and furthered his education at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences in Design. Since the release of his debut book Ravenoville (2001), his “photo images” have been showcased internationally in numerous museums, galleries, and major art fairs.
Diergarten is a member of the German Society for Photography (DGPh) and the Hessian Werkbund. He also serves as the chairman and founding member of the international photography network Piece of Cake and has lectured at various art institutions, including the shift school of photography, as well as in China.
Götz Diergarten currently lives and works in Frankfurt am Main and Volxheim in Rheinhessen.
Götz Diergarten, Inside-Out / Outside-In
January 18 – February 22, 2025
Galerie Peter Sillem – Frankfurt, Germany
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