This podcast episode features an in-depth conversation with Wolfgang Tillmans, the influential German photographer born in 1968. Tillmans discusses his four-decade career, his experimental approach to photography—spanning portraiture, still life, landscape, political subjects, and abstraction—and his innovative installation methods that respond to specific exhibition spaces. He also shares personal influences, including Kurt Schwitters, Francisco de Zurbarán, Isa Genzken, Laurie Anderson, and Jiddu Krishnamurti, and reflects on the purpose of art. The episode is sponsored by Bloomberg Connects, which highlights museums and biennials currently showing Tillmans's work.
The article matters because it offers rare insight into the mind of one of the most transformative figures in contemporary photography, whose practice has reshaped how photographs are displayed and experienced. Tillmans's ongoing exhibitions at major institutions—including Maureen Paley in London, the 36th Bienal São Paulo, MOCA Grand Avenue, and Pinakothek der Moderne—underscore his sustained relevance and influence. The podcast also connects his work to broader cultural and political themes, reinforcing his role as a key voice in art and society.