Michael Höpfner walks; with his backpack, tent and minimal work utensils, preferably an analog camera and film: “It is the simplest medium – minimalist. I work with a Leica or a Hasselblad. I am interested in a direct access, no detours.” During his several months long travels in sparsely populated regions analog photography proved ideal for his purposes because of its independence from electricity. “On every trip, I have a maximum of 20 rolls of film with me. 750 photos, this must be enough for at least three months. It almost forces me to keep a calm line of vision. In my pictures, I want to convey tranquility.”
The artist understands hiking as liberation from predetermined ways of life and artistic guidelines. The – partly overdrawn – photographs, drawings and written notes can be read as an attempt of situating the human being in nature and as a reflection on the relationship between the two.
A main contribution in the latest issue EIKON #109 is dedicated to the artist.

Vernissage 10.03.2020| 19:00 | EIKON Showroom MuseumsQuartier Wien