"Digital Scores" (after Nicéphore Niépce)
7 of 8 Editions Available
Andreas Müller-Pohle has taken a radical approach, exploring the metadata of a photograph and questioning what representation means in the digital age. In Digital Scores (after Nicéphore Niépce), the earliest known photograph, an analogue photograph is being translated into alphanumeric digital code. The photograph was digitized and the information contained in the seven million bytes translated into alphanumeric signs. The information, unreadable for the human eye, represent the complete binary description of the oldest surviving photograph.
Andreas Müller-Pohle, a Berlin-based media artist and publisher, is renowned for his extensive contributions to contemporary art and media. He initially studied Economics and Communication Sciences at the Universities of Hanover and Göttingen before embarking on a remarkable career.
In 1979, he established European Photography, an influential art magazine dedicated to contemporary photography and new media. His early artistic endeavors, initiated in the late 1970s, revolved around themes of photographic perception and photo recycling. Later, he expanded his artistic repertoire to include video. By the mid-1990s, Müller-Pohle delved into the realm of digital, genetic, and political codes, marking a significant evolution in his work.
His portfolio features an array of projects exploring water, including extensive photographic studies of the Danube River and the bustling metropolis of Hong Kong. His artistic endeavors have been widely recognized, with his works finding a place in numerous private and museum collections across the globe.
Müller-Pohle's influence as a publisher is equally noteworthy. He edited the major works of media philosopher Vilém Flusser, now available in the ten-volume Edition Flusser. Notably, his publication of "Philosophy of Photography," translated into over twenty languages, has left a lasting imprint. In 1986, with the release of Flusser's essay "Die Schrift: Hat Schreiben Zukunft?" (Does Writing Have a Future?), Müller-Pohle emerged as a pioneer in the realm of e-books, setting the stage for today's digital literary landscape.
Recognizing his contributions, in 2001, Müller-Pohle was awarded the European Photography Prize by the Reind M. De Vries Foundation. His written contributions to photo theory, including the concept of "Visualism," have added depth to the field.
Müller-Pohle's influence extends to academia, where he has served as a visiting professor and lecturer at institutions such as the Higher Institute of Fine Arts in Antwerp, Belgium, and the Hong Kong Design Institute. His current projects include an artist book and video featuring previously unpublished material from Hong Kong, as well as a long-term endeavor encompassing photography, video, and sound, titled "Studies on Traffic."
The significance of his work was further acknowledged in 2023 when the ZKM in Karlsruhe acquired the estate of this esteemed photo artist and publicist, Andreas Müller-Pohle.