In his sociocritical photo sequences Achim Koerfer airs urgent issues of current relevance in terms of fascinating, stunningly colored imagery. In each sequence, a single visual leitmotif is given ever varying settings, visual and conceptual. The enchantment of Koerfer’s compositions lies in a look which intriguingly belies the manner of their making. What at first glance appears to be a sleek, digitally composited image is in reality a multiple exposure realized in situ on film. The choice of motifs alone requires utmost care, an artist’s keen eye and a well-developed memory. Intuition and experience work hand in glove to create images both perfectly executed and electric.

The individual compositions showcased here are available in Open Editions in superlative quality as digital prints from ARTFLAKES. Obtain the motif of your choice in classic style as fine art print on canvas, with passe-partout, laminated and/or framed, or as photo mount.

VIRAL CONTROL (2011)

„Insidious Manipulation“

VIRAL CONTROL aims to open our eyes to the manipulation that our thoughts and actions are subjected to constantly. The arrow, one of the oldest symbols found in most cultures, has been taken to symbolize this subliminal control. It is a familiar fixture which we follow blindly. But does it deserve our unquestioning trust? Is it not often the case that the arrow misleads rather than leads? This photo sequence strives to provide fresh impetus for more personal responsibility, then we not only have the right but also the obligation to call into question whether the path we have taken is the right one. It is not only as consumers that we are led astray by relentless enticements. Demagogues exploit this mechanism. The more people there are who blindly swim with the tide, the more difficult it is for the individual to resist being swept along in their wake. Constant vigilance is imperative and every step we take must be carefully considered. Learn more ►

NARCOTIC SALE (2010)

„Shopping, an Intoxicant“

NARCOTIC SALE demonstrates how a single short word could work a veritable mass hypnosis. SALE has become the clarion call for the youth-conscious, dynamic and globally aware person of today. It incites a craving for material possessions and makes of responsible customers, compulsive and insatiable consumers. The days when we went shopping primarily to fulfill the family’s basic needs are a thing of the past. Now we shop till we drop. Shopping has become an event – an end in itself, an intoxicating leisure activity. The motifs of this photo sequence give food for thought and encourage us to examine our own consumer behavior. Are we still self-determined customers or already long since remote-controlled consumers? Shouldn’t we sooner limit our wants to bare essentials? We cannot go on ignoring social and environmental sustainability in the long term without suffering the grim consequences such heedlessness brings. Learn more ►

FLORAL IMPACT (2009)

„The Breed of the Future“

FLORAL IMPACT opposes mankind’s severe encroachments upon nature. Even without the depredations of genetic engineering, 22% of all plant species are in danger of extinction. With their passing, countless animal species which stand to lose their habitats as a consequence also face annihilation. The inadvertent introduction of genetically modified (GM) plants extraneous to an ecosystem also poses a threat, as they crowd out and eliminate native species. The same applies to genetic mutations arising from pollution. This photo sequence decries the implacable lust for profit that drives man to remake the face of nature, thus inflicting incalculable and irreversible damage. It can only be mankind’s obligation to commit himself to safeguarding and conserving all species which are inextricably interrelated to form a complex system. Once mankind starts manipulating this system he can only wreak havoc. Learn more ►

SYNTHESIZED FASHION (2008)

„The Grand Illusion“

SYNTHESIZED FASHION encourages the viewer to choose individualism over conformism. Emotionless faces of storefront mannequins in the sequence depict how interchangeable people seem if they submit to dictates of fashion. Only the setting into which the mannequins are transported photographically gives them a semblance of beauty and personality. It is a sad truth that many people feel the need to fit in at all costs, resulting in average persons forcing themselves into outfits catering to unrealistic types, unsuitable to their personal look. Young women starve themselves to death attempting to conform to an illusory ideal of beauty. Garments are mass produced by exploited laborers in low-cost countries, oft under inhumane working conditions. If we look for role-models, we should not search the pages of a glossy fashion magazine. Only people true to themselves and to their convictions deserve and command our respect and admiration. Learn more ►