Satellite Voices

Munich

Community: Gerhardt Kellermann

September 7, 2011

Photographer and industrial designer Gerhardt Kellermann talks about his work

• Text by Lea Rieck

Gerhardt Kellermann is one to watch out for. He not only works as a photographer on projects with fashion designer Ayzit Bostan, but also as an industrial designer at the studio Nitzan Cohen. With Satellite Voices he talks about the cosmos of culture.

Satellite Voices: What makes you smile?
Gerhardt Kellermann: A coffee and cigarette in the morning.

SV: What was the first thing you ever made?
Gerhardt Kellermann: The first thing I made was in Romania, where I was born. I made trouble for my grandma by running away to the neighbours and throwing stones at passing trucks. Nowadays, I find it hard to commit myself to a project or anything else I am working on. Lots of projects are the first thing I ever made in a certain way. It can be product, a photograph, a book or a short film. The most exciting and fascinating thing is to face new projects and challenges, things you have never done before.

SV: What’s your dream project?
Gerhardt Kellermann: There are many projects I would enjoy to work on but I cannot say that there is one particular project I 'dream' of. The most important thing for me is to work with a company, brand, partner or magazine that has a certain esteem, respect and understanding for my way of working.

SV: What do you wish you had written / created?
Gerhardt Kellermann: I don't think it's productive to wish or yearn for things that already exist. The goal is to find and observe things that inspire you. It's about combining what already exists to create something new.

SV: Who’s work / art / music would you recommend on checking out?
Gerhardt Kellermann: For sure, Ayzit Bostan. Her work spans many disciplines; from clothing and installation to music and film. Her style is uniquely sensual yet sharp and clear. It is for this reason that I am glad to wear her clothing and accessories. I am constantly amazed by how many people ask me about my clothes when I wear Ayzit Bostan. On a few occasions I was actually fortunate enough to participate in a few of her projects. It is always very inspiring and a lot of fun to work with her. I would also recommend the work of Guy Bourdin. I am fascinated by his photography as well as his person.

SV: How do you describe your work?
Gerhardt Kellermann: My body of work is hard to describe and define because of its diversity. Most people who I deal with know me as a photographer but mainly I work as a industrial designer (a strange thing considering my thesis was not product, it was a book).

In the past I worked as a freelancer on a few architectural projects but currently I am working on a multi-disciplinary installation that I can't talk about yet. Alongside this I prepare my teaching lessions for the State Academy of fine Arts and Design in Stuttgart.