A deer and a human are facing each other.

Wolfgang Tillmans, Deer Hirsch, 1995, © Wolfgang Tillmans

Wolfgang Tillmans

Fragile

28 May 2022

Exhibition opening 28.05.2022

20 Jul 2022

Art Twenty One und Centre for Contemporary Art (CCA)
9 McEwen St
Yaba 101245 Lagos

It is the interpersonal with all its shortcomings that fascinates Wolfgang Tillmans. He sees the acceptance of the fragility that defines us as individuals and our interpersonal relationships as a strength. He uses failures, ruptures and fragility as an impetus to develop new processes. They point to the imperfect nature of our lives and reveal unsuspected perspectives on life's materiality. In this sense, 'Fragile' refers to the precious moments of life and the value of social and family ties, especially in times of social and political instability.

Tillmans's artistic work is based on an irrepressible curiosity, intensive preparatory research and continual engagement with the technical and aesthetic potential of the medium of photography. His visual language is characterized by a close observation that opens up a deeply humane approach to our surroundings. Familiarity and empathy, friendship, community and closeness can be seen and felt in his pictures.

The exhibition presents the multifaceted art of Wolfgang Tillmans and shows about 200 works from the years 1986 to 2018. The exhibition includes large-format prints, smaller photographic prints, sculptural objects and table installations, and also video projections and publication projects.

Finissage

After four years and seven stops, ifa is showing the touring exhibition for the last time on its African leg in Lagos, Nigeria. Before that, the exhibition visited Kinshasa, Nairobi, Johannesburg, Addis Ababa, Yaoundé, Accra and Abidjan.

Opening in Lagos, CCA Lagos, 28.05.2022 © Goethe-Institut Nigeria

Opening in Lagos, Art Twenty One, 27.05.2022, talk with Wolfgang Tillmans and Papa Omotayo © Goethe-Institut Nigeria

Opening in Lagos, Art Twenty One, 27.05.2022 © Goethe-Institut Nigeria

Opening in Lagos, CCA Lagos, 28.05.2022 © Goethe-Institut Nigeria

Wolfgang Tillmans, Walkabout, Nairobi 2018 © Julian Manjahi/ Goethe-Institut Nairobi

Children, Opening Johannesburg 2018 © Herman Verwey/ Goethe-Institut Johannesburg

Wolfgang Tillmans and Gitte Zschoch, 13.02.18, Opening Kinshasa © Michel Katompa/ Goethe-Institut Kinshasa

Visitor, Opening Addis Abeba 2019 © Mulugeta Gebrekidan/ ifa & Goethe-Institut Addis Abeba

Visitor, Opening Yaoundé 2019 © Y. Aboueme/ Goethe-Institut Yaoundé

Visitors, Opening Yaoundé 2019 © Y. Aboueme/ Goethe-Institut Yaoundé

Visitor, Opening Accra 2021 © Yao Ladzekpo/ ifa & Goethe-Institut Ghana

The exhibition on ifa Agora

More about Wolfgang Tillmans, his work and the touring exhibition on ifa Agora.

The ifa Agora is the digital platform for the art holdings and touring exhibitions of the ifa - Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen.

Exhibitions worldwide

With over 20 touring exhibitions currently travelling across the globe and with its diverse event programmes on contemporary art, the ifa links the German art scene with internationally active cultural creators and forms cooperations and networks. The projects, many of which were developed in co-creation with local partners, cover the various disciplines of modern and contemporary fine arts – from current themes in architecture, photography and design to Bauhaus and monographic exhibitions such as Rosemarie Trockel or Wolfgang Tillmans. These projects generate local meeting platforms and allow international perspectives on topics of global relevance. The ifa also provides loan exhibits to interested museums.

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