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Written on their faces
Written on their faces
Klaus Einwanger
October 13, 2020
The faces photographed by Klaus Einwanger all have stories to tell – about life, about the mundane, and about developments in society. His project took him to New York, London and Tokyo, and explains how disruptive business models, breaches of rules and corruption have turned the market upside down.
LFI: How did you come up with the idea of portraying taxi drivers around the world?
Klaus Einwanger: The chats and encounters I had with taxi drivers on my way to photo shoots and appointments in New York, London and Tokyo gave me food for thought, and further fuelled my strong inner feeling towards the question of "appreciation". This led to the decision to document these people, their struggles, their hopes and their current situation, using the language I’m familiar with – imagery. As momentum.
You speak about wanting to document the gradual fall in values. What exactly do you mean?
Faces speak volumes – they speak to the viewer about individual fates; about the traces of lost battles, unfair market conditions, and the lack of appreciation or recognition, left behind on people’s faces. My portraits document, uncover and compare.
You connected with many people all over the world. How did those portrayed react?
The reactions were very diverse and ranged from deep resignation to constant hope, and pride. Above all, however, there was great support for the project, so as to use every possibility to show the kinds of developments that are, in part, destroying the economy.
Do you think that photography is in a position to bring about changes in society? How might that look in your project?
Photography still has the power and the wish to reveal facts that can contribute to understanding and change. Unfortunately, the impact is no longer as strong as it was some years ago, because we have now become visually overwhelmed and overloaded. With my project, I point to the fact that we all carry responsibility towards one another through our behaviour. $talic:(Interview: Danilo Rößger)$
All the pictures on this page: © Klaus Einwanger
Equipment: Leica SL, Vario-Elmarit-SL 1:2.8-4/24-90 f/2.8-4, Apo-Summicron-SL 1:2.8-4/90-280
LFI: How did you come up with the idea of portraying taxi drivers around the world?
Klaus Einwanger: The chats and encounters I had with taxi drivers on my way to photo shoots and appointments in New York, London and Tokyo gave me food for thought, and further fuelled my strong inner feeling towards the question of "appreciation". This led to the decision to document these people, their struggles, their hopes and their current situation, using the language I’m familiar with – imagery. As momentum.
You speak about wanting to document the gradual fall in values. What exactly do you mean?
Faces speak volumes – they speak to the viewer about individual fates; about the traces of lost battles, unfair market conditions, and the lack of appreciation or recognition, left behind on people’s faces. My portraits document, uncover and compare.
You connected with many people all over the world. How did those portrayed react?
The reactions were very diverse and ranged from deep resignation to constant hope, and pride. Above all, however, there was great support for the project, so as to use every possibility to show the kinds of developments that are, in part, destroying the economy.
Do you think that photography is in a position to bring about changes in society? How might that look in your project?
Photography still has the power and the wish to reveal facts that can contribute to understanding and change. Unfortunately, the impact is no longer as strong as it was some years ago, because we have now become visually overwhelmed and overloaded. With my project, I point to the fact that we all carry responsibility towards one another through our behaviour. $talic:(Interview: Danilo Rößger)$
All the pictures on this page: © Klaus Einwanger
Equipment: Leica SL, Vario-Elmarit-SL 1:2.8-4/24-90 f/2.8-4, Apo-Summicron-SL 1:2.8-4/90-280
ALL IMAGES ON THIS PAGE: © Klaus Einwanger
Klaus Einwanger+-
Klaus Einwanger began his photographic training in 1984. Six years later he opened his first studio in Rosenheim. From there he launched a more than thirty-year photographic career, that has led him to carry out numerous projects all over the world. In the meantime he has additional studios in Berlin, New York and London, is happily married, and has three sons. More
