Wolfgang Tillmans in London for book signing

One of the most important and influential photographers of his generation, Wolfgang Tillmans has consistently challenged and pushed the boundaries of photography, successfully navigating his way into the art world.

To mark the release of a revised and expanded edition of his 2002 monograph, Wolfgang Tillmans, published by Phaidon, the German photographer will be signing copies at Koenig Books on London’s Charing Cross Road, from 6pm this evening.

The book, which is “the first and only comprehensive record of the artist’s entire career”, says the publisher, has been updated to include new writings by the artist and projects from the past decade.

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In the early 1990s, Tillmans, who was born in 1968 in Remscheid, in the west of Germany, photographed youth culture – in clubs, at gay pride parades and warehouse parties – his bold, sexy style helping to make his name. Tillmans’ work was published in magazines such as i-D, Interview, Süddeutsche Zeitung Magazin (SZ-Magazin), Butt magazine and Spex, which he co-edited from 1997, and in 1995, at the age of 24, he reputedly sold 40,000 copies of his first book, also titled Wolfgang Tillmans, which has since achieved cult status.

Known for his close observation of the world around him, Tillmans has successfully made the transition into the art world, winning the Turner Prize in 2000 (he was the first photographer and non-British artist to do so) and exhibiting at art galleries and fairs all over the world. Most recently, Tillmans, who studied at Bournemouth and Poole College of Art from 1990 to 1992, has been made a Royal Academician by the Royal Academy of Arts.

Tillmans’ work is on show as part of several group exhibitions this summer, including: the Berlin Biennale for Contemporary Art (until 03 August); (Mis)Understanding Photography, at the Folkwang Museum in Essen, Germany (until 17 August); and the Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition, which opened this week and runs until 17 August.

The revised and expanded edition of Wolfgang Tillmans, priced at £39.95, is available from Phaidon Press.

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