Markus Krottendorfer’s photographic practice moves at the interface between the documentary and the fictional, consistently exploring the boundaries to utilitarian photography. His current series Phantom of the Poles (since 2012) focuses on the conflict surrounding controversial narratives of historical realities and world views. The title refers to William Reeds’ publication of the same name, published in 1906. In his book, Reeds assumes that the interior of the Earth is hollow and that within it is a world of its own with oceans, volcanoes, and waterfalls. Reeds assumes that the entrances to this “underworld” are at the two polar caps. Krottendorfer traces this hypothesis by seeking out various entrances at remote locations and documenting them photographically: glaciers, mountain peaks, underground waterways, and cave systems. By means of seductive aesthetics, the artist deceives, manipulates, and awakens our desires, misleading us as viewers. In doing so, he exposes the problematic nature of the documentary and its political dimension—who constructs our view of the world? A main feature in the latest issue EIKON #120 is dedicated to the artist. markuskrottendorfer.com

Vernissage 08.11.2022 | 19:00 | EIKON Showroom MuseumsQuartier Wien