Deutsche Fotografische Akademie

 en » de
en » de
Deutsche Fotografische Akademie

Torsten Schumann

schumann_torsten_portrait.jpg

Profile Type:

Birth Year:

Lives In:

Member Status:

About

As a child, I grew up in Germany in two different social systems. Maybe that's why I sometimes question the familiar and ordinary things that we usually take for granted. Parallel to my studies in process engineering, I was looking for a balance in the fine arts and tried my hand at various media: photography, however, was most directly linked to my playful curiosity about our world. And it connects me with others and lets me travel.

Statement

Photography helps me question the everyday. The more I do this, the more I see the world as an enigma. I often wonder about details and everyday situations in urban space. Why and to what purpose do people create certain things? I am also fascinated by the liveliness of the objects on the street with their independent forms and colour nuances. When I feel a resonance between my mood and the surroundings, I photograph intuitively and feed my inner squirrel with it. I leave the things and their riddles untouched. Also pictures ask me more questions than they give answers.

Education

  • 2012 - 2015 | “Art Photography”, Lichtblick School, Cologne (DE)

Selected Awards

  • 2019 | IPC Latitude Life Photography Competition (3rd prize), Pordenone (IT)
  • 2017 | PDN Photo Annual Awards, category photo book, New York (US)
  • 2015 | Street Photography Contest by PDN, New York (US)
  • 2015 | OPUS Kulturmagazin Photo Award, Saarbrücken (DE)
  • 2012 | ARTE LAGUNA – Prize, Venice (IT)

Selected Exhibitions/Publications

  • 2019 | Mur(s), Arles (FR)
  • 2019 | Galerie Blumberg, Potsdam (DE)
  • 2018 | Galerie Sehnsucht, Rotterdam (NL)
  • 2018 | Jarvis Dooney Gallery, Berlin (DE)
  • 2017 | Soiz Gallery, Passau (DE)
  • 2017 | Head On Photo Festival, Sydney (AU)
  • 2016 | The Center for Fine Art Photography, Fort Collins (US)
  • 2016 | Peperoni Books, Berlin (DE)
  • 2015 | Filter Photo Festival, Chicago (US)
  • 2015 | Circulation(s) Festival, Paris (FR)
  • 2014 | Internat. Print Competition, Royal Photographic Society, London (GB)

Personal Website

http://www.torstenschumann.de

Works

Torsten Schumann | For Tomorrow (2011 - 2019)

Torsten Schumann | For Tomorrow (2011 - 2019)

I am interested in everyday objects in urban space. That´s why I often wonder why and to what purpose people create certain things. What could be the story behind these objects? Sometimes it is possible to guess a connection, but often enough they remain a mystery. “Once, when taking photographs in a large, hectic city, I was stopped by a woman who, in a somewhat perplexed manner, asked me what I was photographing. "A squirrel," I replied. The woman, surprised, couldn't see a squirrel anywhere. Nevertheless, she nodded in satisfaction and went on her way.” "For Tomorrow" is part of the series "More Cars, Clothes and Cabbages".

Format:

Photo / Video

Credits
Author:
Torsten Schumann
Work:
Torsten Schumann | For Tomorrow (2011 - 2019)
Copyright:
Torsten Schumann

Torsten Schumann | Being Prepared (2009 - 2019)

Torsten Schumann | Being Prepared (2009 - 2019)

'Being Prepared'... always a good idea. At least if you're afraid of the imperfect and chance. However, in practice this usually doesn't help much, because our life doesn't only include shiny facades and fulfilled plans. And it also brings some surprises... 'Being Prepared' is part of the series 'More Cars, Clothes and Cabbages'. What do cars, clothes and cabbages have in common? Apart from the fact that Torsten Schumann has come across all of these things on his wanderings through urban streets and spaces, they are not connected. In his photos, everyday elements frequently come together accidentally to form constellations that don’t seem entirely real.

Format:

Photo / Video

Credits
Author:
Torsten Schumann
Work:
Torsten Schumann | Being Prepared (2009 - 2019)
Copyright:
Torsten Schumann

Torsten Schumann | Square Bricks and Round Heads (2012 - 2019)

Torsten Schumann | Square Bricks and Round Heads (2012 - 2019)

In "Square Bricks and Round Heads" Torsten Schumann´s objective is to call the substance of walls into question. Furthermore, he plays with our perception of reality and questions our prejudices that are as rigid as brick walls and obstruct our view of our surroundings, resulting in isolation and exclusion. By including mechanically moving elements, he issues a statement about his experience, that even walls and social systems are never as rigid as they seem. Thereby he also has attempted to connect several areas of his life: his childhood, during which he spent a lot of time tinkering with contraptions, his former profession as an engineer, and his long-standing passion for photography – in order to playfully overcome his inner borders between them.

Format:

Photo / Video

Credits
Author:
Torsten Schumann
Work:
Torsten Schumann | Square Bricks and Round Heads (2012 - 2019)
Copyright:
Torsten Schumann

Torsten Schumann | Off Keel (2010 - 2017)

Torsten Schumann | Off Keel (2010 - 2017)

Longing for confusion, Hungry for takeaway and the next new thing. Nocturnal cliffhangers, Emotional baggage, Derailing on the wrong side of the tracks.

Format:

Photo / Video

Credits
Author:
Torsten Schumann
Work:
Torsten Schumann | Off Keel (2010 - 2017)
Copyright:
Torsten Schumann

Torsten Schumann | DFA-Presentation

Torsten Schumann | DFA-Presentation

Presentation at the conference of Deutsche Fotografischen Akademie, 29.-30.04.17, Zehntscheuer, Leinfelden-Echterdingen.

Format:

Photo / Video

Credits
Author:
Torsten Schumann
Work:
Torsten Schumann | DFA-Presentation
Copyright:
Torsten Schumann