“Haut, Stein” [Skin, Stone] by Jakob Ganslmeier is a series of photographs in two parts: one part consists of colour portraits of individuals who are in the lengthy process of removing ideologically loaded tattoos from their bodies as part of their breaking-away from the far-right extremist scene. The second part are black and white diptychs depicting historic Nazi symbols that remain visibly embedded in urban and rural architecture and public spaces despite the so-called denazification, repainting, or other interventions. Both series show traces of swastikas, particular runes, portraits of soldiers and the like. By juxtaposing these symbols on skin and stone, removed or reworked but preserved to a certain extent, Ganslmeier creates a tension between an individual and collective memory and responsibility for reappraisal of history.
Jakob Ganslmeier is a photographer whose interests lie in long-term documentary projects. Based on intensive research, he questions topics such as memorial culture and collective memory, extremism and its media imagery. To this end, he often involves the protagonists of his investigations in the creation of the images.
