ROBBY MÜLLER
In 1992, renowned cinematographer Robby Müller (1940 – 2018) relocated to Amsterdam, after having lived abroad for sixteen years. He would remain there until his passing in 2018, always with a camera at hand. Müller captured Amsterdam the way he perceived it – as a collection of reflections and shadows, focusing on mirror images in windows or on a hood of a car, a striking play of lines and, as a Master of Light should, the distinctive, Amsterdam light.
For years the photos remained hidden in the archive, until his wife, photo-editor Andrea Müller-Schirmer was invited to publish a weekly column in the Dutch newspaper Het Parool. For one year, the newspaper published a photo every week – always of Amsterdam, always unmistakably Robby Müller. Amsterdams licht (Amsterdam light), the column was titled, true to Müller’s aesthetics. The photos show Müller’s view of Amsterdam, with his characteristic play of light and lines, reflections, and composition. Short texts appeared alongside the photos – Andrea’s associations, that give important insights into Robby’s way of living and working.
Now, the column’s images and texts are bundled and published as a book. Robby Müller – Amsterdam Photos is designed by Linda van Deursen and features an essay by Bianca Stigter, published by Roma Publication.
The book launch is accompanied by an exhibition of Robby Müller’s works. A selection of the photos from the book are releasedfor the first time and on view in The Bakery, the gallery’s project space.
Furthermore, Eye Filmmuseum in Amsterdam is presenting prints of all the photographs and the texts from the series on the wall in the foyer of Cinema 1. This exhibition is open to the public from Feb. 18 to March 5.
Robby Müller was one of the greatest pioneers in his field. He worked with directors such as Wim Wenders on iconic movies as Alice in den Städten (1974), Im Lauf der Zeit (1976), and Paris, Texas (1984); Jim Jarmusch’ Down by Law (1986), Dead Man(1995) and Mystery Train (1989); Lars von Trier’s Breaking the Waves (1996) and Dancer in the Dark (2000). During a four-decade long career comprising almost 100 projects, he also collaborated with visual artists such as Steve McQueen, for his installation Carib’s Leap (2002) for Documenta 11.
Müller’s solo exhibitions include Robby Müller: Like Sunlight Coming Through The Clouds at Annet Gelink Gallery, Amsterdam, Case Chiuse HQ, Milan, Rencontres de la Photographie, Arles and Slash Gallery (WORM), Rotterdam (2020); An Homage to Robby Müller at Annet Gelink Gallery (2018) and Master of Light at Deutsche Kinemathek, Berlin (2017) and Eye Filmmuseum, Amsterdam (2016).