Martin Kollar in Mannheim

In 2014, Slovakian photographer Martin Kollar received the Leica Oskar Barnack Award for his series Field Trip. The winning works are now showing at the ZEPHYR Gallery in Mannheim until 31 May 2015. Consisting of around 70 images from the series, this is the most extensive presentation of the project to date, and the photographer's first solo exhibition in a German venue.

Disturbing, evocative, real
The photographer (born 1971) repeatedly visited Israel in the period from 2009 to 2011. Portraying the atmosphere of tension within the country, Kollar combines a surreal cinematic style with a high degree of symbolism, while never failing to show reality. Disturbing and often difficult to place, his presentations of everyday moments are cleverly composed and deeply evocative – simultaneously truthful and surreal.

Field Trip captures a society in the process of preparing for a range of future scenarios. Yet without this knowledge, the images – taken in bright, white light – could be mistaken for stills from a science fiction film. Constantly veering between a sense of reality and fiction, the photographs emanate a subtle, yet ever-present feeling of unease.

A book of the same title has been published by Mack Books. Further details about the series and an extensive interview with Martin Kollar are featured in the Special Edition LFI on the Leica Oskar Barnack Award 2014, available via our online shop.

For further information see ZEPHYR, Martin Kollar