Ralf Emmerich Photograph
After the City Museum acquired the extensive analog and digital collection of photographer Ralf Emmerich in November 2020, this exhibition now offers a first glimpse into the photographic work of the photographer born in Münster in 1956. Selected works spanning over forty years provide visitors with an insight into Emmerich's oeuvre.
After abandoning his geography studies at the University of Münster, Ralf Emmerich decided in 1978 to pursue photography training and has been working as a freelance photographer since 1986. Alongside his professional career, he developed his own projects and traveled extensively. From this vast collection, a selection was made to present a sort of "lifetime achievement." The exhibition spans 46 years of photography, from the oldest images taken during a trip to Brittany to the most recent photos taken on the island of Rügen. These minimalist images of the Baltic Sea, with their vivid color photographs of the sea, horizon, clouds, occasionally featuring a ship or a few birds, are remarkable for their brilliance and sharpness.
In addition, there is a larger series of photos from the weekly market at Domplatz in Münster, which Ralf Emmerich has visited and photographed repeatedly. The exhibition includes old black-and-white photos from the times of market stalls constructed from wooden trestles and planks, holding sacks of potatoes and local farmers' vegetables. Customers' money disappeared into old cigar boxes. Many Münster residents will look at these pictures with nostalgia and recognize familiar vendors.
The majority of the exhibition focuses on travel photography. It includes images from Burma, Syria, Uzbekistan, France, Kosovo, Israel/Palestine, West Africa, Cape Verde, and Nicaragua. Rarely will you see "tourist attractions." Emmerich has always been interested in people. Most of the individuals he encountered on his travels trusted him. The so-called "common people" are presented expressively, with dignity and self-confidence, gazing at the visitors.
