Alexander Binder Interview
in capture, by Voita Otevrel, July 23rd, 2010Photographer Alexander Binder was born on Halloween in 1976 in the area of Wilhelm Hauff and the Brothers Grimm called the Black Forrest. Influenced by memories, imagination and music of Sunn or Gustav Mahler, Alexander creates mystical and ethereal artworks that have been shown in galleries all around the world.
You have been featured in several publications and exhibited around
the globe, can you tell me how it all started?
It all started about 2,5 years ago when my friends convinced me to publish my
works. Until that time I had showed my stuff only to a very small group of
close friends and selected members of my family. As far as I can remember, the
first people who have supported my work were Tim Barber, Boogie, Brad Troemel and the people of Orte Magazin from Berlin.
So massive thanks to all of them!
Does your work reflect life experiences and memories or is it more
about your imagination?
I combine both aspects in my body of work – memories and imagination.
For example, I have very strong memories from my childhood. As a kid I have
spent a lot of time in the dark hill moors of the Black Forest and many of my
photos reflect the eerie and diffuse atmosphere of these enchanted places. But
imagination plays also a big role: I am completely obsessed with any kind of
fairy-tales, spiritual and occult stuff. And my photos bring these ideas and
imaginations to life.
Can you give me an idea of the photo-taking process?
To be honest, the whole process is very amateurish and it has absolutely nothing
to do with a professionally planned photo shooting.
Most of the time I take some of my friends or even my 66-year-old dad (he is
one of my best models!) with me on a spontaneous photo trip and we carry only
those things with us, which are absolutely necessary. For example: my camera, a
collection of self-made lenses, a few masks or costumes. These trips normally
last from a few hours to a few days and I have only a very vague concept for
the whole process at the beginning – so I never know how things end.
How does your latest series differs or relates to some of your
previous work?
After experimenting with video and 3D renderings in the last months, I returned
to my key-medium photography.
And I guess ‘Allerseelen’ is some kind of logical evolution of photo series
like ‘Traum’. For me it feels very positive, vibrant and lively – even
the traditional symbols of death shimmer in magical rainbow light. I think that
‘Allerseelen’ is one of my most life-affirming photo-series so far.
Who are your favorite artists? Do you feel influenced by any of
them?
In terms of photography, I love the images of Hans Bellmer and also the classic
works of Henry Peach Robinson. Besides that, I was always enthusiastic about
the works of so-called outsider artists like Miroslav Tichý, Billy Childish or
Joe Coleman. The older I get, the more I admire their relaxed attitude towards
art and their true passion, which they show in all of their works.
But I guess the most direct influence on my work have bands like Sunn O))) or
the late-Romantic Austrian composer Gustav Mahler. Very often I listen to their
music while taking new photographs and I guess their influence can be seen in
most of the things I am doing.
Earlier this year you self-published your second book, can you tell
me more about it?
‘Traum’ (= dream) was shot over a period of several weeks
in Iceland last year. I have read a lot about dreams, their meaning and the
hidden neural processes behind them at that time – and I was deeply
impressed by Sigmund Freud’s perception of dreams. He conceived them as an
expression of the dreamer’s deepest fears and desires.
The amazing landscapes of Iceland built the ideal background for these images.
I have never seen such an impressive combination of waterfalls, ice, fire,
sulfuric smoke and lava-fields before. So the whole trip felt like a dream.
At the beginning I was quite unsure about publishing the book on my own because
you have the whole responsibility for the final result. But the positive
feedback of many people from all over the world and the fact that it was chosen
for the ‘Self Publish, Be Happy’ showcase at the Photographers’ Gallery in
London, have convinced me that this was a good decision.
But self-publishing is only one option for me to distribute my photos. I also
appreciate to work together with open-minded publishers. People like Aron Morel
(Morelbooks) or Craig Atkinson (Café Royal Books) are very professional
partners and their passion is incomparable. So it’s also a great joy to work
together with them on new releases.
Do you think that there is something that people might find strange
about you?
I guess there are a lot of things that people might find strange about me (for
example my passion for horror/splatter movies or my slowly growing collection of
animal skulls).
But according to my experience in the last few years, the strangest thing about
me is that I am looking so absolutely ‘normal’. I guess due to the dark
and evil character of my works, a lot of people believe that I am the re-birth
of Aleister Crowley or a frightening metalhead. So when they see me for the
first time, they mostly think that I am an accountant or an IT nerd who has
entered the wrong door …
very interesting.
cool interview, cool photographs, cool all around
cool
he is a weirdo
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