Interview with Jann Höfer & Martin Lamberty

1 - Can you introduce yourselves? Your background, your sources of inspiration, your motivation as artists. 

My name is Jann Höfer, I was born in 1986 and I work as a freelance portrait, reportage and documentary photographer. After a classical training as a photographer, I completed a master's degree in "Photographic Studies" at the Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts. I try to tell the stories of my protagonists with attention and respect. It is important to me to use a calm, clear visual language that opens the viewer's eyes to connections without being overwhelming. Precise observation, warm tonalities and careful composition help me achieve this. 

My name is Martin Lamberty, born in 1991, photographer and filmmaker from Cologne. In my documentary work, I focus on social and environmental issues that move me personally and which I approach with as open an eye as possible. Some of my works have already been shown at exhibitions and festivals in Germany and abroad and have also won awards. The motivation behind our joint freelance work "one million years" is to translate the complexity of the subject matter and the scope of our current actions into an artistic, photographic language and thus bring it closer to the reader.  

2 - How did the idea for the exhibition come about? What are your different roles in this project and what is your relationship to each other? 

The idea for the exhibition came about when we first came across the term "atomic semiotics" during our research. The one million years stipulated by law in Germany that a repository for nuclear waste must be safe exceeded our imagination. We immediately found the challenges associated with this unimaginably long period of time and described in atomic semiotics exciting and appealing, so we decided to create a photographic work on the subject. In our opinion, the best possible form of presentation for the work "one million years" is an exhibition and a book. Our approach to the project was equal from the outset. We researched together, determined the focal points and took photographs at the same time during our appointments. We also designed the curatorial process together. We both own the copyright to every photograph we took. There is no breakdown of who took which photo. This was very important to us in order to be able to realize our work as a duo on an equal footing. We got to know each other during our studies and have since realized numerous commercial projects together. The idea of working together on the free final project in the Photographic Studies course at Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts was therefore only logical.  

3 -What do Les Rencontres d'Arles mean to you? 

The "Rencontres d'Arles" has always been our most highly regarded photography festival. Due to the size and, above all, the focus on documentary and artistic works on display, we have always gained a lot of inspiration from our visits. With each visit to the festival, we have grown in our own photographic work.   

4 - You asked WhiteWall to support your project - what motivated you to do so? How do you perceive WhiteWall and how have you found the collaboration so far? 

In our photographic work, we attach great importance to high quality in terms of contrast, color, composition and finishing. Due to the well-known high quality of WhiteWall's fine art prints and framing, it was clear to us from the outset that we wanted WhiteWall as a partner for the production of our exhibition in Arles. We are delighted and proud that it worked out. We can be sure that we will present our work in the best possible quality. The collaboration with WhiteWall has been great so far. Thanks to their competent and reliable way of working, we felt well advised and have found the ideal form of presentation for our exhibits in the ArtBox. 

Finalization of the work in our workshop: a fine art print on alu Dibond with an Artbox frame

"One Million Years" by Martin Lamberty & Jann Höfer - FOTOHAUS Arles - 18 rue de la calade - Arles (FR)