Hannes Wallrafen is a highly acclaimed Dutch/German photographer who lost his eyesight 10 years ago at the height of his career. Wallrafen is famous for his staged photography through which he seeks to translate time into engineered images. His work can be regarded as personal interpretations of local history: storytelling at its core.

In the seventies and eighties Wallrafen used his camera to denounce injustice. He travelled to Northern Ireland, Chile and India, and among others followed the Squatter movement. In the second half of the eighties he started searching for other ways of expression because, as society changed, so did his worldview. In his works the compelling message shifted to more direct images imbued with subtle criticism on society. His artwork is characterised by themes such as transience, history and memory just as his idiosyncratic relationship with literature and delicate sense of humour make his work readily recognisable.

The work of Hannes Wallrafen is included in many private and public art collections across the world, such as the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam and Nederlands Fotomuseum Rotterdam. The iconic photo ‘De Schimmel’ was shot in the pre-Photoshop era and is an exemplary demonstration of Wallrafen’s talent and skill.