AMANN, Werner - American. 1996-2009

Background information

The photographic volume 'American. 1996-2009' is the result of Amann's long-term photographic project, which Werner AMANN began in 1996 and continued until 2009. The photographs were taken in the US cities of Los Angeles, New York, Las Vegas, Gainesville, Miami and Kansas City, as well as the border city of Tijuana, Mexico and the desert regions of the American West. In 2010, the volume won the international dummy competition at the FotoBookFestival Kassel 2010, beating out more than 400 photo books submitted and 56 titles on the shortlist. The jury at that time consisted of Magnum footgraphers Martin Parr and Alec SOTH, as well as gallery owners, publishers and experts Priska Pasquer, Markus Schaden, Celina Lunsford, Frank and Oliver Seltmann, Lesley A. Martin, Andreas Müller-Pohle." (© Seltmann Verlag, 2011)
"In the photo book 'American,' photographer Werner AMANN succeeds in capturing a piece of the American soul in light yet dense, expressive images, composed into a flowing essay of documentation and poetry. In 'American', the form is also convincing. Using the book as a medium with its special material and style qualities adequately was fulfilled here to a special degree." (from the jury statement)

Book review, content

The volume is printed in the best possible realization of the delicate colorfulness on deep matte paper, a combination that any less dedicated printer would have easily failed at. Together with the cover of pliable gray board, the raised neon yellow title lettering, and the matte dust jacket, this book is a true marvel of printing precision and quality that quite naturally gives Amann's winning design a perfect appearance." (Thomas Wiegand, kasselerfotobuchblog.de)
The photo book 'American' by Werner AMANN 'deals with the example of the USA of the photographer's desire for his métier. Portraits and scenes with passers-by alternate with travel pictures of streets and squares. The fact that the stream of images is fed from a pool that was created over 13 years is not noticeable at any point. The double pages and their sequence are so well composed that you imperceptibly get caught up in a maelstrom that only releases you when you reach the end of the book, which has no text except for two short statements by the photographer.

About German photographer Werner AMANN

Photo books by Werner AMANN