They consist of seat shells screwed on to crates, upholstery supported by bricks or they might be held together with pieces of string: we’re talking about parts of old chairs that have had new life breathed in to them thanks to the creative improvisation of their owners. Michael Wolf primarily found and photographed these pragmatic examples of recycling in China and Hong Kong – his adopted home.
The pictures are part of a retrospective by the former photographer at German magazine Stern whose projects have in the meantime made him one of the leading contemporary photographic artists. The exhibition will run at the Rencontres d’Arles art festival until 27 August 2017. He chose the Église des Frères Prêcheurs as the venue. This erstwhile Dominican church is used for cultural events nowadays. As a place of tranquillity and contemplation, the Gothic building from 1499 provides an exciting contrast to Michael Wolf’s works. Because the theme of his exhibition is life in big cities.