To celebrate Anton Corbijn’s sixtieth birthday, C/O Berlin is presenting a retrospective of his work encompassing around 600 photographs, including a lot of never-before-seen work. At Anton Corbijn Berlin Retrospective, you will be able to see the evolution of a self-taught novice to a celebrated video director and influential photographer.
Anton Corbijn Berlin Retrospective at C/O consists of two different series: Hollands Deep, which spans his entire 40-year career, from the early black-and-white days to his conceptual and personal work. You will also see 1-2-3-4 at the exhibition, celebrating his work with musicians and bands.
From Metallica to Nick Cave, David Bowie to R.E.M., Depeche Mode to Johnny Rotten, Rolling Stones to Nirvana, if you are a music fan, this is the place to visit in Berlin.
But, some of you may be asking yourselves, I have seen some of these pictures before, but who is this Anton Corbijn? Don’t worry; I’m here to help you out.
Anton Johannes Gerrit Corbijn van Willenswaard was born in Strijen, Netherlands, in 1955. His first contact with a camera was at a concert when he was 17 years old. After this first experience, he was hooked. In 1979, fuelled by his love of post-punk, he moved to London and became the main photographer for NME for five years.
There, he met many artists, including U2 and Depeche Mode, who are featured in the pictures in this article. A few years later, in 1989, he published his first book, Famouz, and now he has more than 18 other books under his belt. And he didn’t stop there.
Anton Corbijn also designed stage sets, album covers, and more than 80 music videos since 1983. This is how I got in touch with his work. And I can blame Nirvana and their Heart-Shaped Box for that. In recent years, he turned his attention to film and gained much attention as a film director. Control, The American, A Most Wanted Man and Life, and some of his works.
The Photographs from Anton Corbijn
For a long time, I believed that pictures and photographs from musicians and artists were just images on the surface. Nothing more than a carefully orchestrated show. Nothing more than that. But Anton Corbijn’s work is different.
His photography shows moments of vulnerability and closeness. Sometimes, even nuances of intimacy. All of this is possible because of the close relationship that the photographer has with the musicians in the spotlight.
Anton Corbijn shoots his subjects outdoors, which is important in his photographs. Sometimes, this even adds to his fragmentary and unfinished aesthetics. His work is documentary and narrative, and the imperfect side of his work creates this stylist trademark.
Some people even call it Corbijnism.
Anton Corbijn’s work was on display at C/O Berlin until January 31st, 2016. Tickets cost 10 euros, and the exhibition is open daily from 11 a.m. to 20 p.m.
Anton Corbijn’s Berlin Retrospective: A Look Back at His Iconic Work
C/O Berlin Foundation – Amerika Haus
Hardenbergstraße 22–24 . 10623
Berlin – Germany
