Fragile

Fragile is the title of a Wolfgang Tillmans’ exhibition shown in several African cities, consisting of more than 200 works created between 1986 and 2018.

This catalogue was published on the occasion of the exhibition and features the writings of Christine Eyene (historian, critic and curator from Cameroon, naturalised French), N’Gone Fall (architect, critic and curator from Senegal), Bart van der Heide (new director of Museion in Bolzano) and Ashraf Jamal (South African art critic).

The photographer investigates the imperfect nature of our lives with new and unexpected perspectives, highlighting precious moments and the significance of social and family ties, focusing on particular moments of political instability.

The catalogue reflects the fragility that Tillmans wants to ‘show off’, consisting of 9 folded posters held together by the classic clamps used by the photographer to install his works. It can be browsed in two ways: either like a normal book, or by opening it completely. Due to its fragility, this object requires care when handled: flipping through the pages too vehemently risks tearing them.