RECOMMENDED OLYMPUS FELLOWSHIP: LILLY LULAY, THOMAS ALBDORF, NADJA BOURNONVILLE

These artists share their view on the world with us and often in unusual ways make things visible that are for several reasons obscured from us: Lilly Lulay, Thomas Albdorf and Nadja Bournonville are the first artists of the fellowship recommended which Olympus initiated in 2017 together with the Fotografie Forum Frankfurt, the House of Photography / Deichtorhallen Hamburg and the Foam Photography Museum Amsterdam. For one year the winners have worked on new projects dealing with the significance of creative photography and each was individually coached by the exhibition centres’ curators. Under the title RECOMMENDED OLYMPUS FELLOWSHIP the fellows’ works can be seen at the Fotografie Forum Frankfurt (FFF), curated by Celina Lunsford, FFF’s Artistic Director.

Lilly Lulay (*1985, Frankfurt/Germany) examines the transitional use of photography in our living spaces and in the virtual spaces of smartphones. The extended levels of imagery and symbols are visualised in her final artworks when she uses laser-cutting technology to “write” over original photographic documentation. Additional installations with printed photographs on fabrics or porcelain engage viewers to experience photographs as three-dimensional objects.

Thomas Albdorf (*1982, Linz/Austria) is concerned with our perception and the effect of artificially created images. At the first glance the viewer is confronted with cliché motifs and cultural subject matter ironically leaving one to doubt their meaning. Albdorf cleverly uses image recognition technologies and software to create new images, to question how automatic digitally rendered visuals influence meaning and interpretation.

Nadja Bournonville (*1983, Vimmerby/Sweden) uses photography to follow traces of biographical tipping points and failed adventures. She draws from a family history: the aunt of Bournonville’s grandmother was a spy for Germany in World War I and was arrested only two weeks into her mission. Through a selection of different processes, sizes and materials inspired by the biographical story Bournonville produces a rich constellation of photographic associations and emotions of universal meaning.

recommended is a fellowship, founded in 2017, that is characterised by its unique partnership between the institutions Foam Fotografiemuseum Amsterdam, Haus der Photographie/Deichtorhallen Hamburg, Fotografie Forum Frankfurt and Olympus. Olympus’ goal is to support emerging photographic artists. The exhibition houses have contributed their expertise to the development of the fellowship. recommended allows the fellowship holders to freely create a photographic work, provides 10.000 €, personal consulting by an experienced curator, exhibition opportunities and top-quality camera equipment. The fellowship is granted biennially.