Photographer Klaus Rossler’s career has gone through many changes in life before entering the world of photography: formal training in graphic design, cabinetry and professional furniture and antiques restoration in Germany, extensive travel in Europe and Asia, study of jazz guitar at university level, performing and recording in North America and Europe.
Yet, his outlook on life changed again after moving to Canada, discovering the grandeur of northern landscapes and subjects in his photography. Living in Northern Ontario and many remote canoe trips had a profound and lasting influence on his work.
He sees photography as a creative process much like painting or sculpture, rather than the recording of reality - emphasizing interpretation and expression - through his fascination with linear structure and texture - by seeing line and shape in a highly graphic way.
As a result the viewer is involved through seeing, instead of looking, responding emotionally. Rather than using photography as a vehicle to convey sociopolitical messages, he points the viewer towards the challenge and recognition of pure design. It is of importance to him to make a clear distinction between the natural design observed and the personal design created, trying to convince us to abandon the notion of reality or truth, so often associated with photography. Rossler’s scrutiny becomes the viewers care and makes one reflect on the pure power of the visual experience.
His B&W-Duotones of dramatic landscapes, as well as series of non-representational images found recognition throughout the region and with collectors across Canada and the US.
Recent series include experimental work, involving multi exposure- off register- and selective focusing techniques, resulting in what he calls Photo-Impressionism.
His latest exhibition “View From The Edge” explores juxtapositions of outgoing, expanding vistas and the close and intimate, as well as reflections, representing a visual transformation from solid to liquid matter.
Besides observation and capture, Rossler prefers to control all aspects of processing his work, including editing and darkroom techniques, printing, matting and framing in archival quality.
His images have been published in Photo-Life Magazine, several outdoor/canoeing magazines and tourism promotions and have been used for various corporate and commercial applications in North America and Europe. Other commercial work includes assignments, documentation and reproduction of exhibited artwork, as well as photo-restoration.
His work has been chosen by the Canadian Museum Of Nature / Ottawa for ‘The Water Project’, a ten year national touring exhibition.
Rossler’s images have been published in Canadian Geographic’s special edition “National Parks 2011”
The City of Thunder Bay / Ontario presented his prints to the recipient of the Thunder Bay Arts & Heritage Award in 2010 and 2011.
Prints are available in several galleries throughout Northwestern Ontario, the Thunder Bay Art Gallery, Zatista, or by contacting him personally.
Exhibitions:
2003 Intergenerational Centre – Atikokan, Ontario 2004 Pictograph Gallery, Atikokan, Ontario
2005 Gallerie Paquin, Kapuskasing, Ontario 2005 Galley 815, Hurst, Ontario
2007 Thunder Bay Art Gallery, Ontario 2007 A-frame Gallery, Sioux Lookout, Ontario 2008 Duluth Art Institute, Minnesota 2009 Thunder Bay Art Gallery, Ontario
Rossler is member and contributing artist with Artisans North West, Thunder Bay / Ontario.
He is a recipient of an Ontario Arts Council Project Grant for 2008-09 and teaches photography-, oil painting- and photo editing classes locally.
Contact Klaus Rossler
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