Das Gruppenbild im Luxemburger Wort (Group picture in the Luxembourg Wort)
A photo-ethnographic study about a small nation by reference to group pictures in its daily newspaper with the widest circulation.
The Luxembourg Wort is the widest-circulation newspaper in Luxembourg. This newspaper’s salient appearance is characterized by numerous depictions of groups of people at various social events. There are approximately 400-500 people captured on group photos daily on average. This adds up to a yearly average of about 150.000 depictions of people - that is half of Luxembourg’s inhabitants. Statistically speaking, one can assume that every Luxembourgian is depicted in the newspaper once every 2 to 3 years.
During two half-year long stays in Luxembourg in 1984 and 1985 group pictures were cut out on a daily basis and then cataloged. This collection constitutes the photographic source material for my own photographic artwork.
The source material was photographically analyzed according to preset focal points, which means that the content of the pictures was selected and sorted according to these preset aspects. This are for example: recurring ritual activities and behaviorisms - such as handing over a check or a handshake; frequent hand positions and foot positions; gender-specific behaviorisms; ritualistic objects and arrangements; breaking with conventions and marginal events, etc.
The formal implementation included a choice of cut out enlargements, serial arrangements, photo indexes, life-size blow-ups etc. were chosen correspondingly to the various focal points of the photographic analysis.
Single studies:
Schecküberreichungen (Check Presentations)
One of the most frequent group photos is the handing over of donation check for charity.
The check presentation takes place in four different variations. The photographs were sorted according to these four variations and cataloged with cut outs of the hands participating in the check presentation.
Series I - Donator and recipient hold the check together and shake hands simultaneously.
Series II - Donator and recipient hold the check together but do not shake hands.
Series III - Donator or recipient holds the check and they shake hands.
Series IV - Donator or recipient holds the check and they don’t shake hands.
111 original newspaper photos, 111 cut outs, 111 index cards, labeled, in plastic foil.
Presentation in collaboration with Luitgard Eisenmeier in the frame of Schwarzmarkt für nützliches Wissen und Nicht-Wissen, Steirischer Herbst 2007
Published in: Maske und Kothurn - Int. Beiträge zur Theater-, Film- und Medienwissenschaft, Vol 4, 2007, sides 44 / 45, Editors: Veronica Kaup-Hasler und Claus Philipp
Die Dame (The Lady)
The group photos are searched for photographs that show only one woman and otherwise only men.
The selection encompasses “Lady plus 4” up to “Lady plus 20”.
48 photographs, marked and cataloged, 28 index cards, labeled, in plastic foil.
Le Luxembourg a Lourdes, Juillet 1984 (Luxembourg in Lourdes, July 1984).
The group photo with the most people in it contains 508 Luxembourgian pilgrims in Lourdes.
Close ups of everyone’s faces turn into abstract identikit pictures through the newspaper grain. This could be interpreted as the vague hopes inherent to these pilgrims.
Installation: 1 large scale reproduction (1m x 3m) of the newspaper photograph, 508 digital photos, looped, on a flat-screen.
Contribution to CD-ROM Odyssey Today.
