SCHROTT

In the organizer's words:

Photographic assemblages
by Markus Bartsch-Mertens

The exhibited works are a further development of the assemblages that were already shown at the Forum Junger Künstler in summer 2021. The materials used are largely taken from a scrap archive, consisting of previously unused photographs, parts of photographic equipment, camera technology, found and everyday objects, overpainted photography and various painting materials. This archive, initially a random collection of small pieces of "junk", has since developed into an important source of inspiration and is constantly being replenished. Photos or photographic rejects often form the basis for an assemblage. By applying various materials and painting, they are transformed into small three-dimensional worlds or surreal figures with sometimes cheerful or mysterious messages. The photo - actually the end product of a process - takes on the role of a building block in this context.

Overall, the object boxes are the result of an imaginative transformation, e.g. from pinhole photography and photographic art - in assemblages and montages.