B. 1988, Munich, Germany
Lives and works in Munich, Germany
The body of Kern’s work consists of drawings that originate from his imagination and are designed to appear photographic at first glance.
Kern develops his motifs from sketches without using any real-life or photographic references. The starting point is always a very simple sketch. Subsequently, he works on proportions, light, and perspective. He incorporates typical aesthetic characteristics of photography—such as blurring, depth of field, distortions, blooming, and shadows cast by camera flash—in order to create a photographic feel. Once he believes the sketches suffice as a basis for a drawing convincing enough to be mistaken for a photograph, at least at first glance, he begins the final drawing. To further enhance the photographic impression, he frames his works as one would expect photographs to be presented.
Kern’s work aims to question the assumption that photography represents a frozen piece of reality. He strives to lure the viewer into a visual trap, prompting reflection on the interplay between reality and fiction and its impact on our perception. To fully understand the images we encounter daily, we must look beyond their superficial meanings.