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This blurb appears in the November 19, 2001 issue of New York magazine:
For his latest series, "Domestic Landscapes," German photographer Thomas Wrede placed a newspaper ad to find German houses wallpapered with those kitschy '60s and '70s-style photomurals of mountain lakes, forests, and beach scenes that make the Today show's autumn vistas look downright gray. Those who never availed themselves of the trend may want to join the current revival after seeing Wrede's large, colorful photographs of living rooms, dens, home offices, and bathrooms (pictured, Toilet by the Lake, 2000-2001). At Cristinerose Gallery, 529 West 20th Street; through December 22.
Now here's the press release for the show, which was ghostwritten by yours truly. It's interesting how the New York writer put a "hip" spin on it:
In "Domestic Landscapes," German artist Thomas Wrede combines still-life and landscape photography in detailed views of home interiors adorned with panoramic, photographic wallpaper. Taking out an advertisement in a German newspaper, the artist found dozens of houses decorated with these full-color murals, most of them dating back to the '60s and '70s. The super-enlarged photos depict mountain lakes, beach scenes, and cityscapes (including a New York skyline with the World Trade Center), that bring an illusion of spaciousness and "elsewhere" into a closed home environment--a trend that is currently enjoying a resurgence.
Setting up his photo equipment inside the houses, Wrede captured finely-wrought glimpses of domestic settings, all with huge, calendar-art vistas looming behind them. Real furnishings such as throw pillows, knickknack shelves, and bathroom fixtures merge with the artificial backgrounds into a kind of seamless, hybrid space. Shot in sumptuous, saturated color, the photos wryly document lifestyles where homeowners "have it all"--enjoying the outdoors without abandoning creature comforts. They are poignant and personal images of utopia.