The ‘Vortex’ series explores disruption, distortion, abstraction, and deformation—but more than in the artist’s previous works, the images now dissolve into a brilliant rush of colour.

The world has become more extreme, and this is reflected in the series. These works hold both horror and beauty, revealing a powerful sense of threat that vividly captures the anxieties of our time. In Gottmann’s imagery, that horror is often intertwined with striking aesthetic allure.

Once again, Gottmann presents compelling mixed-media works rooted in photography—images that fuse beauty with violence, elegance with aggression. Some resemble scenes from a theatre of cruelty, and it is essential to recognise that such fantasies, such performative apparitions, invite multiple interpretations.

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Gosbert Gottmann studied economics at the University of Mannheim and has worked as a self-taught photographer for over 25 years. His work has been shown in museums, galleries, and international exhibitions, and is part of several private and public collections, including the DZ BANK Art Collection. His photo books Modern Sufferings (2001), Spectators (2015), and Bärenstark (2016) were published by Kehrer Verlag. His forthcoming book Ètoile will be released by Kettler Verlag in 2025. Gottmann lives and works in Frankfurt am Main.