Swiss photographer Christian Lutz documents right-wing populist people, movements and hot spots all over Europe.
On the wake of the financial and refugee crisis, economic and social insecurity, Brexit, the current coronavirus pandemic and its attendant economic and social upheavals, identitarian movements are gaining ground worldwide. Touting visions of impending doom and gloom, including overpopulation and social decline, they fan fears and peddle purportedly “common sense” solutions and promises that breed exclusion and intolerance. All of Europe is witnessing the political ascent of right-wing populist parties: UKIP in the UK, Dansk Folkeparti (DF) in Denmark, FPÖ in Austria, AfD in Germany, Vox in Spain and SVP in Switzerland, to name just a few.
Christian Lutz has documented right-wing populist people, movements and hot spots all over Europe for his latest series, Citizens. A far cry from the usual polarized coverage in the mass media, Lutz’s multi-layered photographic approach involves noiseless pictorial expressions of deep seated despair in the form of candid portraits of party leaders and followers alike and shots of their rallies, post-industrial landscapes, bars and hangouts.
Swiss photographer Christian Lutz (born 1973, lives and works in Geneva) is a graduate from ESA 75, L'Ecole Supérieure des Arts et de l'Image in Brussels, and is a recipient of several awards.
His work is both exhibited throughout the world and regularly published.
From 2003 to 2012 the primary focus of Christian Lutz was to create a trilogy on power that brought him international recognition. Three books: Protokoll, Tropical Gift and In Jesus' Name were subsequently published based on political, economic and religious power.
His photographic approach focuses on a scrupulous sociological observation of human groups and while the formal qualities of his images are visually appealing they often reflect an acerbic visual commentary on our collective preconceived socio-political constructs.
From his earlier documentary approach to photography, his work has since evolved to encompass a more cinematographic perception of his environment.
