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Christian Voigt
A JOURNEY THROUGH TIME – SELECTED ARTWORKS
27 September – 02 November 2024
Petra Gut Contemporary is proud to present the work of internationally acclaimed photographer Christian Voigt in his solo exhibition at their Zurich gallery.
A JOURNEY THROUGH TIME: SELECTED ARTWORKS features an exceptional and curated collection of Christian Voigt's large-scale, hyper-realistic images. These works span both architectural and natural subjects, portraying grand historical interiors and breathtaking fossils in extraordinarily vivid detail. This exhibition invites viewers to engage with the artist’s vision, exploring the layers of culture, time, and memory embedded in each scene.
Voigt, born in 1961 in Munich, studied photography and media in Berlin and Vancouver, and began his professional life in the film and publishing industries. His cinematic eye and editorial discipline would later feed directly into his unique photographic language. His early career behind the scenes allowed him to master not only the technical dimensions of image-making but also storytelling, which now sits at the core of his photographic practice.
Known internationally for his monumental photographic prints, Voigt combines precise technical control with poetic atmosphere. His signature style blends digital and analogue techniques, using large-format exposures that are layered, reworked, and refined over hours of post-production. The results are immersive, almost painterly representations that possess both clarity and mystery.
Christian Voigt’s works have been exhibited in galleries and institutions worldwide, from Paris and Hamburg to Los Angeles and New York City. Collectors value the precision and emotive power of his prints, while curators and critics have praised his ability to transform familiar spaces into profound visual experiences. This Zurich exhibition is a unique chance to explore his evolving body of work in person.
A centrepiece of the show is Voigt’s photograph of the Austrian National Library, located within the Wiener Hofburg Palace in Vienna. Commissioned by Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor, and constructed by renowned architects Johann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach and his son Joseph Emanuel, the library is a baroque masterpiece. The photograph captures its opulence—arched ceilings, gold detailing, and towering bookshelves—while also reflecting the vast knowledge stored within.
Housing over 12 million items, the Austrian National Library is the largest in Austria. Voigt’s photograph is not just an architectural study; it is a meditation on history and intellectual legacy. Notably, the collection also includes two books authored by the artist himself.
In a more eerie tone, Safe 2265 transports the viewer to a deserted Chicago bank vault, now a rusted, forgotten chamber echoing with the city’s storied past. Built during the Jazz Age, this institution thrived during the prohibition era, when figures like Al Capone ruled the underworld. Voigt’s composition captures the stillness of the once-bustling vault: hundreds of sealed boxes whisper of wealth, secrets, and lost time.
A rare original deposit box accompanies the piece, creating a unique juxtaposition between art and physical artefact.
Another highlight of the show is Voigt’s Evolution series, initiated during a visit to the Natural History Museum in London. Here, Voigt moves from the man-made to the primordial. His large-format images of Triceratops, Stegosaurus, and other prehistoric fossils place the viewer in direct dialogue with the deep past. These creatures, extinct for millions of years, appear preserved yet strangely alive.
Shot against black backdrops with precise lighting, the images elevate these scientific specimens into ghostly icons. The result is an emotional, sometimes surreal experience—reminding us of both the beauty and brevity of life.
Other works in the exhibition transport visitors to equally remarkable locations:
The Escorial Monastery Library in Spain, built by King Philip II
The Abbey Library of St. Gallen, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Switzerland
Deserted industrial halls and abandoned sanatoriums in Eastern Europe
Each site is carefully chosen, with Voigt seeking out places where time seems to linger—where architecture, memory, and silence converge.
His artistic method is just as ambitious. Voigt often shoots using custom-made equipment and a combination of digital sensors and analogue lenses, allowing him to achieve depth and resolution that go far beyond standard formats. He then layers his exposures digitally, fine-tuning light, texture, and geometry to achieve a harmonious whole. This painstaking process is not about manipulation but enhancement—an attempt to reveal the essence of a place.
The exhibition at Petra Gut Contemporary represents not only a celebration of Christian Voigt’s technical mastery but also his capacity to evoke emotion through space. Whether depicting a palace of books, a forgotten vault, or ancient bones, his photographs challenge the viewer to pause, look deeper, and consider what lies beneath the surface.
Christian Voigt’s works are more than photographs—they are meditations on time, permanence, and transformation. His ongoing commitment to excellence and discovery positions him as one of the most innovative photographers working today.
Exhibition Venue:
Petra Gut Contemporary
Nüschelerstrasse 31, 8001 Zürich
www.petragut.com
Opening Dates:
27 September – 02 November 2024
Wed–Fri: 11:00–18:00
Sat: 11:00–16:00 or by appointment
Explore the full Christian Voigt collection online:
https://petragut.com/collections/christian-voigt
Meta Description: Discover Christian Voigt’s large-scale, hyper-realistic photographic works in Zurich. A solo exhibition exploring historical libraries, fossils, and forgotten spaces.
Suggested Slug: /christian-voigt-journey-through-time-zurich
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