Markus Krottendorfer’s photographic practice operates at the intersection of the documentary and the fictional, whilst consistently exploring the boundaries of commercial photography. At the heart of his current series *Phantom of the Poles* (since 2012) lies the conflict surrounding contested narratives of historical realities and worldviews. The title refers to the eponymous publication by William Reeds, which was published in 1906. In his book, Reeds posits that the Earth’s interior is hollow and contains a world of its own, complete with oceans, volcanoes and waterfalls. Reeds suspects that the entrances to this ‘underworld’ are located at the two polar caps. Krottendorfer explores this hypothesis by seeking out various entrances in remote locations and documenting them photographically: glaciers, mountain peaks, underground watercourses and cave systems. Through seductive aesthetics, the artist deceives, manipulates and stirs our longings, leading us as viewers astray. In doing so, he lays bare the problematic nature of the documentary and its political dimension – who constructs our view of the world? The artist is featured in an article in EIKON #120. markuskrottendorfer.com

Vernissage 08.11.2022 | 19:00 | EIKON Showroom MuseumsQuartier Wien