Jeff Wall

Jeff Wall (b. 1946 in Vancouver), one of the world’s leading art photographers, occupies a special position in contemporary art. Not only has his work since the 1970s been instrumental in establishing photo graphy as an image-making medium in its own right, but he is also regarded as the founder of “staged photography”. He is also an incorruptible observer of human realities and social interactions. He uses a large number of individual shots to create mostly large-format photographs, which are often inspired by everyday scenes or models from art history. 

Fortified door, a silver gelatin print that Wall produced in his own dark room, shows a heavy wooden door and a doorframe consisting of both old and more recent elements. A hand written note tells us that the owner is on vacation. Another clue is that provided by the numbers, which turn out to be the telephone number of a furniture store in Wall’s native Vancouver – a store that also sells doors. Does this hidden fact shed light on this seemingly straightforward image or does it rather make it more complicated? Wall gives us puzzle pieces, which it is then up to us to fit together.

Silver gelatin print 

153 × 126 cm

62.5 × 136 × 5 cm (framed) 

Edition: 4/5 + 2 AP 

Copyright: Jeff Wall 

Courtesy: Jeff Wall and White Cube 

Provenance: donated by the artist and White Cube