Juergen Teller on August Sander

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Juergen Teller talks about the photography of August Sander, a forefather of conceptual art and pioneering documentarian of human diversity

Over the course of a career spanning six decades and tens of thousands of negatives, August Sander created a nuanced sociological portrait of Germany. Sander set out to depict, with eloquence and empathy, the faces of his world. At the same time, he embarked on a massive conceptual project predicated upon the existence of typologies around profession and social class that can, and do, reduce faces to masks.

Juergen Teller, born in Germany the year that August Sander died, is considered one of the most important photographers of his generation. Teller studied at the Bayerische Staatslehranstalt für Photographie in Munich, before moving to London in 1986, and has successfully navigated both the art world and commercial photography since beginning his career in the late 1980s.

August Sander. Men Without Masks an extensive exhibition of works by the influential photographer, is on view at Hauser & Wirth London through 28 July 2018.

Main image: Still from Juergen Teller on August Sander via Vimeo.

Juergen Teller on August Sander from Hauser & Wirth on Vimeo.