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Exhibition Michael Nguyen "In the Realm of Reflections and Lights" at Gauting Town Hall (Greater Munich) as part of the awarding of the Günther Klinge Culture Prize 2021
michael nguyen
Jun 13, 2022
Michael Nguyen was awarded the Günther Klingel Prize of the municipality of Gauting in 2021 for special achievements in photography. As part of the awarding of the Günther-Klinge-Prize 2021, a six-week solo photo exhibition can be admired in the town hall of the municipality of Gauting. Michael Nguyen was awarded the Günther Klinge Culture Prize 2021 by the municipality of Gauting for special achievements in photography.
Since 1980, the municipality of Gauting has awarded the Günther Klinge Culture Prize, endowed with 3,000 euros, to individuals or groups for outstanding cultural achievements who are connected to the municipality of Gauting through their life and work. It is named after the entrepreneur, patron of the arts and honorary citizen of Gauting Günther Klinge, who died in 2009 at the age of 99. The public award ceremony will take place end of June 2022.
On exhibit are 15 large-format photographs from Michael Nguye’s series "In the Realm of Reflections and Lights”.
We can only see ourselves through reflections. In the mirror, on water, and on every shiny surface. The truth is, our reflections are coming from anything that reflects light, which is everything not completely dark. So we see ourselves in the meat we eat, in the wine we drink, the job we do, in the clothes we wear, in our parents, our children, our friends, in the closets. In others’ eyes as well in their words and actions. To us and to themselves. We can even see the past through its reflections coming from a billion light-years. The world is somehow our own reflection.
The question is, with all reflections given back to us, can we truly see ourselves?
Look at these photos. Of course, we see the beautiful symmetry image consisting of a building and its reflection on the still pond, the wonderful fractions of the outside on the windows, the painting-like distorted reflections on the water. Water is not only its former self it used to be, it now holds the projection of things it mirrors. The windows now are the eyes, keeping every light particle of the outside world they never forget.
And when the photographer takes those photos, which are in fact his reflections on the world, he sees himself and hopefully also finds his true self.
Text by Thanh Tung
Discover the complete series at Michael Nguyen’s website.
Exhibition:
Michael Nguyen
In the Realm of Reflections and Lights
Photographs
28.7.2022 - 8.9.2022
Gemeinde Gauting
Rathaus Gauting
Bahnhofstr. 7
D-82131 Gauting
2,398
