A man fries eggs atop a stream of lava in Thomas Mailaender’s Extreme Tourism series, which delves into the peculiarities of global travel. This is but the smallest drop in Mailaender’s artistic bucket, which will be open to visitors in an exhibition at the Maison Européenne de la Photographie (MEP) through September 29th. Mailaender's Les Belles Images presents a vivid exploration of the role and function of images in contemporary society. Known for his multidisciplinary approach, Mailaender's work spans a range of techniques and materials, blending humour with critical commentary. This exhibition, a carte blanche for the artist, transforms the MEP into an experimental photographic laboratory, challenging traditional notions of visual display and the consumption of images.
Mailaender's installations draw from a diverse archive of over 11,000 documents collected from flea markets, garage sales, and online sources, making up a collection titled The Fun Archaeology. The exhibition showcases a variety of works, including Fail Anthology, Extreme Retouch, and the immersive Chemical Room, where photographs are exposed directly onto the walls, creating a dynamic interplay between the image and its context. The Life and Adventures of a Silver Woman on Planet Earth revisits the life of Rosemary Jacobs, using photography to document her story and critique the use of silver nitrate in medical treatments.
Mailaender's inventive use of everyday objects and his reappropriation of images challenge viewers to reconsider their relationship with visual media. His work has been exhibited internationally, from the Tate Modern in London to the SFMOMA in San Francisco, earning him accolades for his unique blend of humour and originality. Critics have praised Mailaender for his recontextualization of mundane and vernacular imagery, questioning the role of the artist and the pretensions of the art world.
From the series "Bookworm", 2021 © Thomas Mailaender
"Totem 3", 2017 © Thomas Mailaender
From the series "Extreme Tourism", 2011 © Thomas Mailaender
From the series "Gone Fishing", 2016 © Thomas Mailaender
From the series "Life and Adventures of a Silver Woman on Planet Earth", 2020-2024 © Thomas Mailaender
From the series "Sponsoring", 2011 © Thomas Mailaender
From the series "Illustrated People", 2013 © Thomas Mailaender
From the series "Illustrated People", 2013 © Thomas Mailaender