Since its fall in 1989, the Berlin Wall has been dismantled systematically, apart from a few negligible remains. An international symbol of division, the ‘Wall’ as such has disappeared – today it exists only in people’s memories. Stephan Kaluza walked the full 50 km of this more or less immaterial site of remembrance, along the former border, and took a photo of the (invisible) Wall at regular intervals of one metre. In order to counter forgetfulness and take hold of a history that continues to make an impact even today, he assembled one single image from approximately 30,000 separate photos.

The past and the visible present come together in this ‘absolute long shot’ to form a timeless kaleidoscope of world history and its changes. Kaluza’s “illusion of instantaneous exposure” succeeds in elucidating the incomprehensible phenomenon of the ‘Wall’ or “reminiscences” of what it was like.

Simultaneously to “Das Mauerprojekt – complexe 16”, the Gallery Michael Schultz Berlin is showing “bildstücke” by Stephan Kaluza (3rd September – 10th October 2009): on different theatre stages – stage-cages –, the viewer is confronted by the individual fates of various protagonists whose innermost souls are turned outwards, inexorably exposed to the visitor’s gaze. Together, the two exhibitions offer a comprehensive insight into the artistic work of photographer Stephan Kaluza.