Michael Schmidt
author · photographer
Michael Schmidt (1945–2014) was a German photographer, educator, and visual artist known for his conceptual and socially engaged photography. Born in Berlin-Kreuzberg and raised in the GDR, he initially pursued painting and worked in the police force before dedicating himself to photography in the mid-1960s. He became a central figure in the Berlin art scene, notably founding and leading the 'Werkstatt für Photographie' at the Volkshochschule Kreuzberg. Schmidt's work often investigates urban identity, social structures, and the 'non-spectacular' aspects of daily existence, using meticulous composition to explore the relationship between individuals and their environment. His landmark photobook 'Waffenruhe' (1987) is a seminal work in contemporary photography, blending visual narrative with philosophical text. He was a professor of photography at several institutions in Berlin and Essen and received the Prix Pictet in 2014.[1,2,3]
- Urban identity
- Social structures
- Everyday life
- Non-spectacularity
Books
-
Waffenruhe€252.00
Works by Michael Schmidt
- 1987 Waffenruhe Photobook featuring images by Schmidt and text by Einar Schleef.
- Ein-heit Key photographic series.
- Lebensmittel Major photographic series.
Works about Michael Schmidt
- 2021 Michael Schmidt: A new German Perspective Exhibition and project developed in collaboration with Einar Schleef.
Exhibitions
- 1987 WAFFENRUHE
- 1988 WAFFENRUHE
- 1989 WAFFENRUHE
- 1996 WAFFENRUHE
- 2013 Waffenruhe
- 2021 Waffenruhe
Awards
- 2014 Prix Pictet