Christopher Williams

7 December 2019 - 8 March 2020

Starting in December 2019, the C/O Berlin will present exclusively selected archive material, black-and-white photographs and architectural elements by photographer and conceptual artist Christopher Williams.

At first glance, Christopher Williams' photographs seem like catalogue shots: technically flawless, of high precision and captivating perfection. The subjects of the works - consumer products, photographic accessories and models - also underline this. On closer inspection, however, it becomes clear that Williams subtly emphasizes the background processes of photography and reverses the relationship between the work and the viewer.

Deconstruction of the creative process

The artist's works aim to hold up a mirror to the viewer's mechanisms of perception. For example, he gives typical photographic accessories a place in the photographs to document the creation of the works. By having some of the photographs taken in studios and by other professional photographers under guidance, John Williams also plays with the classic understanding of authorship and raises the question of who can be considered the author of a wo

About Christopher Williams

Born in Los Angeles in 1956, the photographer is regarded as one of the most important conceptual artists of his generation. He is associated with the art practice of the "Institutional Critique", in which the functionalities of artistic creation and art institutions are questioned. He studied at the California Institute of the Arts in Los Angeles and has been head of the photography department at the Düsseldorf Art Academy since 2008.