Josef Achrer (b. 1982, Prague, Czech Republic; lives and works in Prague, Czech Republic)

Reverse Exposure (2026)

In a new series of photograms, Josef Achrer’s dream-like, nature-focused scenes explore the emotional range of light. In one image, searchbeams scan the sky, seeking something outside the visible realm. In the second, a falling star inverts the trajectory of light and evokes something more romantic or hopeful, a wish upon a star. Together, the images explore the tension between fear, hope, uncertainty, and expectation.

Presented at OFFSCREEN is the glass the artist used for each of the photograms. The series is sequential — Achrer worked on the glass, then exposed it to sunlight, and then printed and developed the photogram in the darkroom. Then he continued manipulating the image on the same piece of glass to create the second in another unique exposure.

The artist draws on his painting practice to produce these photograms. He had noticed the way that pigment leaks through a canvas, and realized he could similarly capture light leaks by transposing the materiality into historical photographic processes. His earlier experiments included exposing canvases to light in the darkroom, before moving into the painting on glass technique employed here. He creates a distinctive layering of mediums in his image-making practice.

Achrer has presented solo exhibitions at Kunstverein Heppenheim, Heppenheim (2025), Ateliér Josefa Sudka, Prague (2025), American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center, Washington, D.C. (2022), Today Art Museum, Beijing (2016), . His work has also been featured in institutional group exhibitions at Telegraph Gallery, Olomouc (2021), Ludwig Museum, Koblenz (2017), Baijia Lake Museum, Nanjing (2016), Prague House, Brussels (2016), and Times Art Museum, Beijing (2014). His works are held in collections including Times Art Museum, Beijing, Bloomage International Investments, Beijing, Huan Yu Private Collection, Henri and Claude de Saint Pierre Collection, Paris, Faupel Collection, Berlin, Sammlung Wemhöner, SVETLIK ART FOUNDATION, Ostrava amongst others.

Founded in Cologne in 2011, Galerie Bene Taschen is committed to promoting its artists through regularly participating in international art fairs including Paris Photo, Art Basel, and Art Cologne; and keeps an extensive exhibition program year-round. The gallery international artists such as Josef Achrer, Gregory Bojorquez, Larry Fink, Arlene Gottfried, Jeff Mermelstein, Rudi Meisel, Donnie Molls, Joseph Rodriguez, Sebastião Salgado, Jamel Shabazz, Charlotte Trossbach and Miron Zownir. Beyond its regular exhibition program, the gallery continuously works on curating and coordinating institutional exhibitions and publishes catalogues with a range of projects by its represented photographers.