Photo: Hans Hansen
The exhibition “Photo: Hans Hansen” at the Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg (MK&G) runs from 17 April to 1 November 2026 and showcases some seventy years of his work, ranging from early student and training pieces, through seminal product photographs from the 1970s and 80s, to his current glass still lifes.
Curated by Esther Ruelfs and Claire Müller, the exhibition brings together applied and fine art works. His photographs are characterised by a minimalist visual language that condenses everyday objects, foodstuffs and technical objects into abstract, often poetic compositions.
From Advertising to Conceptual Photography
Hansen’s work ranges from commercial commissions for companies and magazines to independent, conceptual projects. He became known, among other things, for his photographs for Lufthansa and for staged shots from the automotive industry. At the same time, he developed his own visual concepts in which light, perspective and materiality become central design elements.
Series on glass, water and ice, experimental depictions of food, or the isolated presentation of everyday objects demonstrate the photographer’s breadth of work. Time and again, Hansen removes objects from their context, dismantles them or rearranges them to reveal their structure and function. With this precise visual composition and minimalist visual language, he has had a lasting impact on product photography since the 1960s and influenced the collective visual memory of entire generations.
The Studio as a Starting Point
At the heart of the exhibition is an installation of Hansen’s photographic studio equipment, which is presented as an installation. This is complemented by the series 'Analog' (2024), a filmed interview and insights into his photographic archive, which the museum has held since 2020. Prints, proofs and correspondence are on display, as well as parts of his collection of glass objects.
A specially developed photo booth enables visitors to experience Hansen’s approach to light first-hand: by creating silhouette photographs in front of an illuminated wall, visitors can see for themselves how this central creative principle informs his work.
