Promis

Celebrities

 

From rock star Peter Maffay to writer Max Frisch and publisher Rudolf Augstein, from actress Inge Meysel to show host Rudi Carrell and jazz musician Louis Armstrong—over the course of his career, Joachim Giesel portrayed a wide range of prominent German and international personalities. As a self-described “chronicler of his time,” he photographed individuals who helped shape the political, social, cultural, economic, and sporting development of the Federal Republic since the 1960s and who stood in the spotlight of public attention, media interest, and advertising. Giesel’s hometown, Hanover, served—due in part to its success as an economic hub—as the starting point of his career as a portrait photographer, during which he established countless connections. In his photo books Photo-Portraits aus Hannover (1990) and 100 Hannoversche Köpfe (2006), he presents figures such as director Doris Dörrie, the rock band Scorpions, and Dirk Roßmann, founder of the drugstore chain bearing his name. All of them have shaped the face of the city through their work and commitment. In addition, commissioned projects emerged, such as a portrait series created in 1992 for members of the “Weißer Ring”, an organization dedicated to supporting victims of violent crime. Other opportunities for portraits arose spontaneously. Regardless of the context in which the portraits were taken, Giesel always sought to gather personal information about the person who would stand before his camera. He also engaged in conversation with his subjects to develop a concept together. His declared aim as a photographer was “to explain people to people.” He achieves this by placing the celebrities before his lens in an environment typical for them, accompanied by characteristic attributes of their work—whether Inge Meysel with her distinctive hat or Max Frisch with his ever-present tobacco pipe. Another hallmark of Giesel’s portraits is the direct gaze of the subjects into the camera. It is always a gaze at eye level—with the photographer as well as with the viewer. Giesel’s approach reflects the growing interest among the West German population since the 1960s in famous personalities. His portraits offer opportunities for identification by making what is “familiar” about celebrities appear recognizable. In an era still marked by the traumatic experiences of the Second World War, people longed for entertainment and for idols they could admire and emulate. This public interest was met by tabloid newspapers and magazines such as BUNTE and Gala. Television shows like “Wetten, dass..?” and “Am laufenden Band” also presented celebrities as approachable figures. Today, Giesel’s portraits open a window onto personalities from both past and present. They invite viewers across generations to develop new perspectives on their work and significance.

ENYA ELINOR FELIX & ZOE JARMILA WARMBRUNN

 

| Louis Armstrong at the Niedersachsenhalle, Hanover, February 12, 1959 (Silver gelatin baryta paper, 2024)

| Group portrait of Scorpions (from the series Photo-Portraits aus Hannover), Hanover, 1990 (silver gelatin baryta paper, 2023)

| Portrait of Udo Jürgens, 1969 (C-print, 2024)

| Portrait of Rudolf Augstein (from the series Photo-Portraits aus Hannover), Hamburg, 1990 (Silver gelatin baryta paper, 2024)

| Portrait of Peter Maffay, Hanover, 2015 (C-print, 2024)

| Portrait of Rudi Carrell, Cologne, 1992 (Silver gelatin baryta paper, 2024)

| Portrait of Dirk Roßmann (from the series Photo-Portraits aus Hannover), Hanover, 1986 (Silver gelatin baryta paper, 2024)

| Portrait of Herwig Guratzsch (from the series Photo-Portraits aus Hannover), Hanover, 1990 (Silver gelatin baryta paper, 2024)

| Portrait of Ursula von der Leyen (from the series 100 Hannoversche Köpfe), Beinhorn, 2006 (C-print, 2024)

| Portrait of Inge Meysel, Vienna, March 1, 1992 (Silver gelatin baryta paper, 2024)

| Portrait of Max Frisch, Hanover, October 9, 1964 (Silver gelatin baryta paper, 2024)

| Portrait of Friedensreich Hundertwasser, Hanover, 1964 (C-print, 2024)

| Portrait of Doris Dörrie (from the series Photo-Portraits aus Hannover), Munich, 1989 (Silver gelatin baryta paper, 2024)

| Portrait of Henri Nannen (from the series Photo-Portraits aus Hannover), Emden, June 1989 (Silver gelatin baryta paper, 2024)