Wesely, Michael. Ostdeustchland by Michael Wesely. Art photography book.

Walter König/Galerie Fahnemann/D.A.P., 2004. Hardcover, not issued with dust jacket.  Like new. First edition of 1,500 copies. Long exposures by Weseley of East Germany.  Essay in German and English by Philippe Van Cauteren.  95 pages. “Mention unusual pictorial worlds beyond time and space, or long exposure times, and photographer Michael Wesely comes to mind. Yet here are his landscapes, which look more like color-field paintings than photographs. Those familiar with the artist's signature work may find themselves pleasantly surprised by this book, designed by Wesely himself.”  Born in 1963, Michael Wesely is a German art photographer who is best known for his photos of cities, buildings, landscapes, and still lives of flowers taken with a special ultra-long exposure technique. He lives and works in Berlin.  Summary:

Ostdeutschland (also published as East Germany) is a photographic art book by German photographer Michael Wesely, released in 2004 by Verlag der Buchhandlung Walther König and curated/published with Galerie Fahnemann. It presents a striking and unconventional visual exploration of the landscapes of eastern Germany through Wesely’s unique photographic vision.

Overview

• Photographic focus: The book is a visual survey of East German landscapes—from rural fields to coastal scenes—capturing scenes that often appear painterly, abstracted, and richly textured. Rather than traditional documentary photography, Wesely’s landscapes emphasize time, light, and atmospheric nuance, producing images that resemble color field paintings more than conventional photographs.

• Unique technique: Wesely is internationally known for his experimental camera and long exposure methods. Although Ostdeutschland is focused on landscapes rather than his ultra‑long exposures of construction sites, his technical approach still transforms the scenes into images that challenge how we usually perceive time, space, and photographic depiction. His practice complicates the idea of a fixed photographic moment by accumulating the visual experience of extended durations.

• Artistic intent: The book doesn’t just document places; it invites reflection on perception and memory. The landscapes of eastern Germany become more than geographic locations—they emerge as sites where the visible and the temporal intersect, prompting viewers to consider how history, light, and environment coalesce in photographic form.

Structure and Presentation

• Bilingual captions/texts: The publication includes texts in both German and English, framing the visual work for an international audience.

• Visual emphasis: The book primarily consists of Wesely’s large‑format photographic prints, letting the images themselves serve as the core narrative.

Overall Impression

Ostdeutschland is less a conventional geographic survey and more a contemplative art object. Through innovative photographic practice, Wesely transforms familiar East German terrain into scenes charged with temporal depth and aesthetic subtlety, inviting viewers to experience landscape as both place and passage.