Miron Zownir

Opening: Wednesday, 22 April 2009, 7 pm

With a radical eye, Miron Zownir creates images of people living on the margins of society’s norms and conventions. Zownir is particularly interested in exceptional and extreme situations. Once he has discovered such a corner, he doesn’t let go, sketching and documenting the life of the people that inhabit it. He sheds a light on the dark corners of society, making them visible for all those who would never venture in such areas. Zownir’s images speak about the individual’s loss of control, loneliness, sexuality, intoxication, violence and desire.

Miron Zownir’s pictures of anonymous people are just as enigmatic as his portrait subjects. In his career he has photographed prominent figures such as David Lynch, Klaus Kinski, Ben Becker, Alec Empire or Christoph Schlingensief.

The Berlin-based cult artist manages to establish extremely close contact with the people he photographs. The intensity of the photographer’s quest for the right moment is palpable in his black-and-white close-ups. With a clinically sharp gaze he delves into the subcultures of large modern cities. London, Los Angeles and Moscow are among his stations. In the New York of the 1980s Zownir was called the “Teutonic Phenomenographer” (The Village Voice) for his capacity to track down the daily madness of the local scene.

Bongout Gallery is proud to exhibit the latest photographic work of one of the most uncompromising artists of our time. Beside his activity as a photographer, Zownir also works as a filmmaker and writer. As part of the exhibition, the gallery will present a selection of his short films.

Engelbert Kiefernagel is just as tabooless an artist. Drawings and letters from Miron Zownir’s private collection provide an insight into the work of this headstrong artist, which is marked by extreme erotic fantasies and anarchist thinking.

Bongout is also pleased to announce that Bruno S. will perform one of his legendary live acts on the opening night. Bruno S. is best known for playing the main roles in Werner Herzog’s films “Every Man for Himself and God Against All” and “Stroszek”. Today the actor has resumed his marginal existence as an ambulant street musician.

Miron Zownir