User:BURNINGallery/RichardFischer
Richard Fischer (Photographer)
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Richard Fischer (* 23 October 1951 in Manila, Philippines) is a German fine-art photographer who is best known for his striking images of plants. His work has appeared in prestigious museums and galleries all over the world and has earned the artist numerous awards. Fischer lives and works in Germany and France.
Early life and education
[edit]Fischer’s grandparents emigrated from Europe to China during World War I, eventually settling in the Philippines where he attended the International School and De La Salle College. Fischer returned to Europe in 1963, studying Economics and Art in Mannheim followed by Photography at the State Academy for Photographic Design, Munich (German: Staatliche Fachakademie für Fotodesign). Fischer subsequently worked on international film productions such as Gruppenbild mit Dame (English: Group Portrait with a Lady), based on the novel by the Nobel Prize winning writer Heinrich Böll, before making a name for himself in photography at studios in Frankfurt, Hamburg and Vienna. Since 1978 he has run his own studio for visual concepts and photography in Germany.
Career as an artist
[edit]Fischer is a celebrated photographic artist who specialises in images of flowers. His work has appeared in prestigious publications including the Sunday Times Magazine (UK) as well as Germany’s Stern, Merian, Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung and the Süddeutsche Zeitung. Fischer believes in the transformative power of art and aims to raise awareness for ecological and societal issues through his work. Since the turn of the century, his contemporary fine-art photographs of botanical subjects have addressed the interwoven themes of environmental awareness and sustainability as well as challenges arising due to the Anthropocene. With light painting and other innovative techniques, he continues to push the visual envelope.
Style and themes
[edit]Fischer’s photographs are known for their unique aesthetic, clarity and precision. He uses macrography to visualise some of the finest structures found within flowers and plants. His work explores what Fischer himself calls Floral Sculptures, in all their beauty and complexity. The phrase Floral Sculptures refers not only to the three-dimensional, aesthetic forms of the flowers and plants as he depicts them, but also to the act of removing them from their natural environment in such as a way as to elevate flora to the iconic status of fine art to be treasured, preserved and admired. Fischer sees himself as an artist in pursuit of meaning as revealed by fine-art photography and avoids the term ‘botanical photojournalist’. His images give birth to fascinating realities dominated by Fischer’s unique creative vision. His abstract rendering of Floral Sculptures continues to broaden the horizon of his chosen medium.
Transformative worlds and light painting
[edit]By experimenting with depth of field and digital light painting, Fischer has developed new virtual forms of expression. His pared-back approach generates powerfully expressive images that challenge conventional perspectives and enable multi-sensory experiences in unique settings.
Immersive art and Absolutely Alive
[edit]Since 2022, Fischer has expanded his palette to include Immersive Art, thus breathing new, digital life into Floral Sculptures. He has lent selected works new dynamism through animation, morphing and mapping techniques, creating novel spaces for his images – ‘immersive worlds of art’ to be experienced both in- and outdoors. Fischer has contributed to a number of projections and immersive art projects worldwide that are either in planning or already under construction. For example, Absolutely Alive is an experimental, immersive project that entirely envelops visitors in vast, animated projections of stills from Floral Sculptures.
Work cycles
[edit]Fischer’s most significant ‘cycles’ depict the various developmental stages of Floral Sculptures: Gentle Genesis, Floral Finesse and Dying Divas. In Ebony Ivory, the artist swaps riotous colour for black-and-white photography. Valued Voices creates a dialogue between human and floral portraits while Plants under Pressure deals with endangered and extinct species. In Absolutely Alive, Fischer showcases still photographs in projections and immersive art projects beyond the confines of galleries and museums.
Exhibitions
[edit]| Year | Exhibition |
|---|---|
| 1982 | Galerie Compagnie, Hamburg, Germany |
| 1983 | National Film Theatre, London, UK |
| 1984 | National Film Theatre, London, UK |
| 1988 | Heidelberg University Library, Germany |
| 1989 | Recontres Intern. Photographie, Arles, France |
| 1989 | Sparkasse Oldenburg, Germany |
| 1989 | Salon den Photo, Paris, France |
| 1990 | Goethe Institute, Brussels, Belgien |
| 1990 | Photography Forum, Frankfurt/Main, Germany |
| 1991 | Gallery K 61, Amsterdam, The Netherlands |
| 1991 | Photokina World Fair, Köln, Germany |
| 1994 | L-Bank, Stuttgart, Germany |
| 1997 | Haus der Wirtschaft, Stuttgart, Germany |
| 1998 | Haus der Wirtschaft, Stuttgart, Germany |
| 1999 | Museum für Kunst & Gewerbe, Hamburg, Germany |
| 2001 | Deutsches Architektur Museum, Frankfurt/Main, Germany |
| 2001 | Art Directors Club, New York, USA |
| 2001 | Art Directors Club, Berlin, Germany |
| 2002 | Airport Council International, Tokyo, Japan |
| 2003 | Art Directors Club, Berlin, Germany |
| 2004 | Print Media Lounge, Heidelberg, Germany |
| 2005 | Kunsthalle, Mannheim, Germany |
| 2005 | Print Media Lounge, Heidelberg, Germany |
| 2006 | Galerie Edition Braus, Heidelberg, Germany |
| 2006 | Photokina World Fair, Köln, Germany |
| 2007 | Galerie Winterberg, München, Germany |
| 2007 | Open House, Bishops Residence Rbg., Germany |
| 2007 | Casino Wiesbaden, Germany |
| 2007 | Museum of Art, Ningbo, China |
| 2007 | German-Chinese Society, Karlsruhe, Germany |
| 2008 | City Library, Ahlen, Germany |
| 2009 | Museum of Art, Ningbo, China |
| 2009 | Sixteen Art Space, Hangzhou, China |
| 2009 | Gallery p 13, Heidelberg, Germany |
| 2010 | United Nations, Palais des Nations, Genf, Switzerland |
| 2011 | Red House Originals, Harrogate, UK |
| 2012 | Galerie Winterberg, München, Germany |
| 2013 | Open Air im Überseequartier, Hamburg, Germany |
| 2014 | Kunstverein Mannheim, BRAUS Collections, Germany |
| 2015 | Kunstmesse ART, Galerie Hoffmann, Germany |
| 2015 | Galerie Jean Michel, Berlin, Germany |
| 2015 | Deutsche Stiftungstage, Karlsruhe, Germany |
| 2015 | Palais Hirsch, Schwetzinger Festspiele, Germany |
| 2016 | Kunstmesse ART, Galerie Hoffmann, Germany |
| 2018 | Museum Kurpfalz, BRAUS Collections, Germany |
| 2018 | Umweltbundesamt, Dessau, Germany |
| 2018 | Moulin, Nègrepelisse, Frankreich |
| 2019 | Fotografar, São Paulo, Brazil |
| 2019 | Flower Art Museum Amsterdam, The Netherlands |
| 2020 | Flower Art Museum Amsterdam, The Netherlands |
| 2020 | Appeltern Art Fair, Appeltern, The Netherlands |
| 2020 | Gallery Sous Terre, Lithoijen, The Netherlands |
| 2021 | Gallery Sous Terre, Lithoijen, The Netherlands |
| 2021 | BURN-IN Gallery, Wien, Austria |
| 2021 | Hong Art Museum, Chongqing, China |
| 2021 | Appeltern Art Fair, Appeltern, The Netherlands |
| 2021 | Gallery Sous Terre, Lithoijen, The Netherlands |
| 2021 | ART Innsbruck, Austria |
| 2022 | BURN-IN Gallery, Wien, Austria |
| 2022 | Pashmin Art Gallery, Kaifeng Art Space, China |
| 2022 | Gallery Sous Terre, Lithoijen, The Netherlands |
| 2022 | Appeltern Art Fair, Appeltern, The Netherlands |
| 2023 | Appeltern Art Fair, Appeltern, The Netherlands |
| 2023 | Sous Terre Gallery, Lithoijen, The Netherlands |
| 2023 | Flower Art Museum, Aalsmeer, The Netherlands |
| 2023 | Sous Terre Gallery, Lithoijen, The Netherlands |
| 2024 | Sous Terre Art Fair and Exhibition, Lithoijen, The Netherlands |
Awards and recognition
[edit]Richard Fischer has won multiple awards for his work. The German national radio station Deutsche Welle described him as “The creator of an artistic Noah’s Ark”. According to the German government’s Environment Agency, he is a “Keeper of Creation” while Amsterdam’s Flower Art Museum sees Fischer as the “Ambassador of Flowers”. He is a member of the Commission for Education and Communication (CEC) of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and has received numerous art prizes. Over the course of his career, Fischer has been awarded a host of awards, which are listed below:
| Year | Award |
|---|---|
| 1983 | Merit Award, Art Directors Club, Germany |
| 1995 | Epica Award, Paris/Düsseldorf, Germany |
| 1996 | Kodak International Panther Awards, Rochester, USA |
| 1996 | Epica Award, Paris/Stuttgart, Germany |
| 1997 | Merit Award, International Calendar Show, Germany |
| 2001 | Merit Award, Art Directors Club, New York, USA |
| 2001 | Merit Award, International Calendar Show, Germany |
| 2005 | Merit Award, International Calendar Show, Germany |
| 2005 | Red Dot Award |
| 2005 | IF Design Award |
| 2005 | German Designers Club Award |
| 2006 | International Kodak Photo Award |
| 2007 | Merit Award, International Calendar Show, Germany |
| 2007 | Merit Award, German – Japan Exchange Exhibition |
| 2016 | Gregor International Silver Award, Germany |
| 2017 | Award of Excellence, Gregor International Awards, Germany |
His work has also been celebrated in some of the world’s leading art publications.
The Floral Sculptures and Endangered Species Society
[edit]Founded in 2010, the Floral Sculptures and Endangered Species Society (FS & ES Society)[1] is home to one of the world’s largest collections of fine-art photography focusing on endangered species of flowers. The society’s mission is to promote and distribute photographic masterpieces, as well as to raise awareness of endangered flora through exclusive fine-art photography.
The FS & ES Society cooperates with a variety of organisations worldwide, including renowned botanical gardens. As the society’s CEO, Fischer has dedicated a significant number of his own works to endangered flora.
As a member of the Commission for Education and Communication (CEC) of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Fischer has been awarded numerous prizes – as a photographer and an artist. The CEC is one of six commissions that make up the IUCN, a global network of active professionals dedicated to nature conservation and the sustainable use of natural resources. It is headquartered in Gland, Switzerland.
In 2010, Fischer was nominated for the PRIX PICTET, an award created by the Geneva bank Pictet & Cie. The prize is regarded as one of the world’s most prestigious awards for photography and sustainability. As of 2024, it had attracted some 400 million visitors worldwide.
References
[edit]Weblinks
[edit]- Offizielle Website von Richard Fischer
- Flower Art Museum
- BURN-IN Galerie im Gerngross
- Galerie Sous Terre
Literature
- Floral – Unprecedented close-ups of flowers and plants by the multiple award-winning darling of the global art market, photographer Richard Fischer teneues.com | ISBN 9783961715046
- A Tribute to FLOWERS - Every year, numerous flowers disappear forever from our planet, condemned to extinction without us even registering the loss. Indeed, many of these beautiful life-forms remain completely unknown to humanity. amazon.de | ISBN 9783961711079
Publications
- Frankfurter Allgemeine Beitrag von Jaachim Müller-Jung 18.05-2009 - Pflanzenfotografie Florale Skulpturen faz.net
- Frankfurter Allgemeine Magazin von Roland Knauer Februar 2015 - Frühe Blüte Magazin ab S32 | faz.net
- Rhein-Neckar-Zeitung 01.09.2014 - Foto-Ausstellung von Richard Fischer: Bedrohte Schönheit rnz.de
- Rhein-Neckar-Zeitung von Andreas Kloé 16.08.2014 - Fotoausstellung Rauenberg: Blumen als "florale Skulpturen" rnz.de
- Rhein-Neckar-Zeitung von Andreas Kloé 02.08.2014 - Blumenbilder im Rauenberger Winzermuseum rnz.de
- Rhein-Neckar-Zeitung 30.08.2014 - Rauenberger Winzermuseum zeigt Fotografien von Richard Fischer rnz.de
- Rhein-Neckar-Zeitung von Rolf Kienle 22.01.2021 - Schwarz-weiß statt praller Farbenpracht rnz.de
- Rhein-Neckar-Zeitung von Rolf Kienle 03.12.2023 - Als könnten die Blüten sprechen richardfischer.org
- k-digital Medien GmbH & Co KG - freizeit.at von Florentina Welley 23.03.2024 - Blumen als Botschafter: Wie sie auch im Garten helfen, die Welt zu retten freizeit.at
- dpunkt.verlag GmbH - fotoespresso von Rolf Kienle 06.2020 - Schwarzweiß statt praller Farbenpracht Magazin ab S11
- Republic of Culture Internet und Marketing UG - LUST AUF GUT 05.2021 Nr.187 - The Ambassador of Flowers Magazin ab S56
- Profifoto - Hahnemühle Galerie FineArt Galerie Richard Fischer Heidelberg/Nègrepelisse profifoto.de
- Blickwinkel - Fotomagazin 2018 - Richard Fischer - A Tribute to Flowers richardfischer.org
- Bare-Essentials - 46 2018 - In Conversation with Richard Fischer - A Tribute to Flowers richardfischer.org
- redbulletin.com Terra Mater August 2018 von Robert Sperl - Lasst sie blühenm - richardfischer.org
- Süddeutsche Zeitung von Titus Arnu 06.04.2018 - Sterbende Schönheiten sueddeutsche.de
- pdn photo of the day 29.03.2018 - Richard Fischer: An Ambassador to Endangered Flowers pdnonline.com
- Fotocult Magazin 08.02.2018 - A Tribute to Flowers Plants under Pressure Richard Fischer Texte Pascal Morché erschienen bei teNeues fotocultmagazin.com
- Daily Mail 23.02.2018 von Katya Edwards - A Tribute to Flowers richardfischer.org
- Berliner Morgenpost 21.02.2018 - Starke Foto-Hommage an bedrohte Blumen morgenpost.de
- Unwelt Bundesamt 12.06.2018 - Im Namen der Blume. Fotografien von Richard Fischer umweltbundesamt.de
- kunstraum SCHWETZINGEN 29.04.2015 - IM NAMEN DER BLUME richardfischer.org
- Trajectoire von CHANTAL-ANNE JACOT 65/2006 - L'architecte des fleurs richardfischer.org
Videos
[edit]- Deutsche Welle 15.06.2018 - Blumenfotos von Richard Fischer Youtube
- Deutsche Welle EUROMAXX Vimeo
- Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung Youtube
Reference List
[edit]- ^ "SOCIETY | Richard Fischer". richardfischer.org. Retrieved 2024-08-12.