Erwin Rachbauer

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Erwin Rachbauer’s Photography: A World of Contrasts

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Erwin Rachbauer, born 1959 in Linz, Austria, has been Photographing since he was 17.
A close friend of the late artist Josef Pausch, who greatly influenced him, Rachbauer's photographic ambitions were nurtured and encouraged by this relationship.

 

Numerous journeys to various countries and their unique cultures expanded his worldview and profoundly influenced his photographic vision.​ Erwin Rachbauer lives and works in Linz/Austria,

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Throughout his career, he has developed several short and long-term series, including Human and Matter, My Face, and People in Metropolises, among others.

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Under the title "TRUE MOMENTS 1986 - 2016," three short videos highlight and document Rachbauer’s transformation from a commercial photographer to an artist.

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1st. video "Human and Matter"
The theme of "transience," with the aura of finitude and the perfection of imperfection, is reinterpreted by Rachbauer and expressed through old instant film materials (Polaroid) and various types of film. This material, whose days are numbered, is given new form and meaning—ready for the ultimate, unrepeatable moment. This “True Moment” plays a vital and decisive role in Rachbauer’s photography.
Rachbauer’s photographic worlds are often defined by a sense of expiration, an imperfect camera world, expired film stock, and moments in time that will never return. This is his unique artistic expression.

 

2nd. video "My Face"

Rachbauer’s photography is complex and multifaceted. In the late 1980s, he encountered individuals who had undergone physical and cosmetic procedures, capturing their post-surgery status for posterity. At that time, plastic surgery (by Dr. Wolfgang Metka) had not yet become the commonplace procedure it is today, and local availability was limited.

 

3rd. video "People in metropolises"

Rachbauer’s street photography in the world’s metropolises captures the everyday street scene in the era of digitalization and mobile phones. The difference from older images is striking—the smartphone has become an essential part of people’s public presence. This observation has influenced his work and is a central theme in the series People in Metropolises.

At the same time, Rachbauer finds inspiration in capturing the fast-paced changes of the digital age, depicting individuals engaged in a shared behavior—using mobile phones in urban public spaces. This collective act is contrasted with classic street photography, exploring the unique qualities that cities, people, and architecture offer within bustling environments, in the here and now of the 21st century and beyond.

 

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