translucent portraits

At the end of 1970s, Klaus Laubmayer began a radical approach to create photographic artworks. He constructed temporary large-scale installations into landscapes on the volcanic island of Lanzarote and Ibiza, and utilized the installation for the final photographic artwork.

These photographic works challenged the notion of what was considered contemporary art, and was groundbreaking at a time when photography was all but not valued as contemporary art.

Translucent Portrait of loss, Lanzarote 1980. Klaus Laubmayer tapped into his subconscious engaging with separation and loss. The surrealistic temporary large-scale installation was constructed on the ground of an existing Salina in Lanzarote, and the instrument for the final photographic artwork.

Translucent Portrait of Ibiza, 1979. Klaus Laubmayer took a progressive approach, like a painter transforming the mental vision into a physical image. He presumed that Ibiza would become the capital of dance and music along with real estate development. He found the dance figures and the painting in Ibiza Old Town, and created the temporary installation on the beach for the final photographic artwork.