Wolfgang Tillmans with Paul Holdengräber: Art and Political Action

"I love that art is ‘useless’ and that it has no ‘purpose’. That makes art so incredibly powerful. And so, I don’t think one should turn to artists instantly and ask, “What are they saying?” I think, really, every private person should take part in democracy, because if you don’t, others choose for you."
—Wolfgang Tillmans, New York Times

In 2000, internationally renowned photographer Wolfgang Tillmans was the first non-British artist to receive the Tate's famed Turner prize in London. His works pair intimacy and playfulness with social critique, persistently questioning existing values and hierarchies. Known for his longstanding interest in the representation of truth in media and politics, Tillmans' latest work focuses on art as a platform to engage with democracy and in doing so, combat nationalism. He visits LIVE prior to the opening of a new exhibition at David Zwirner, How likely is it that only I am right in this matter? to discuss his life, work, and creative impulses.

This annual LIVE program on photography is generously underwritten by Mahnaz Ispahani Bartos and Adam Bartos. 

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LIVE from the NYPL offers conversations with notable writers, artists, and leaders, hosted by Paul Holdengräber at The New York Public Library. Learn more about LIVE and our other upcoming events.

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ASL interpretation and real-time (CART) captioning available upon request. Please submit your request at least two weeks in advance by emailing accessibility@nypl.org