»Single Frame Movies«

He describes his elaborately arranged photographs as »Single Frame Movies«: photographer Gregory Crewdson (born 1962) creates eerie, timeless motifs in the face of economic and social crises. He is considered an internationally renowned master of narrative photography. His works, which always tell stories about small-town America and its inhabitants, are created with enormous effort comparable to the shooting of a film. In some cases, over a hundred people are involved in casting, costume and set design, and lighting for a single image. However, the photographer does not see his work as socially critical, as it is sometimes interpreted. Based on personal experiences, he explores psychological aspects, the unfamiliar in everyday life. According to Crewdson himself, this interest stems from his childhood experiences: his father was a psychoanalyst and had his practice in their own home. A major retrospective featuring over 70 works will be on display at the Kunstmuseum Bonn from October 9, 2025, to February 22, 2026.

Works from the series Early Works (1986-1988), Twilight (1998-2002), Beneath the Roses (2003-2008), and Eveningside (2021-2022), among others, will be presented. After the photos are taken under elaborate production conditions, the final image is composed in post-production from elements of several shots. Crewdson has won numerous awards, including the German Photo Book Award in 2009 for Beneath the Roses. David Lynch's film Blue Velvet (1986), with its eerie atmosphere, is considered particularly influential on his work.

The current exhibition was created in collaboration with the ALBERTINA in Vienna, where it was shown in 2024.