Andrzej Tobis

b. 1970, Wieluń

Photographer, painter, teacher. He is a graphic arts graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts in Katowice, where he is now an associate professor. He refers to himself as a photographing observer and compares himself to a mythical inventor of a language, pointing to objects, naming them and creating meanings. He paints when taking a break from observing. His paintings usually allude to the symbolism of dreams, surrealist associations and juxtapositions. He has been working on a long-term project, A-Z (Educational Showcases), since 2006, with a focus on the connection between word and image. Winner of the 34th Bielsko-Biała Autumnal National Painting Competition in 1999. He lives and works in Katowice.

110 12 das Schwimmbecken / The Partition for Non-swimmers

from A-Z series (Educational Cabinets), 2007, pigment inkjet print, dibond, 40 × 50 cm × 5 cm

The A–Z (Educational Cabinets) series is an artistic project in progress since November 2006. To date, Andrzej Tobis has collected and labelled several hundred photographs. The ever-expanding photograph series is an attempt at describing the world, naming phenomena and defining reality. Tobis found a formula and form for his endeavour in the first three editions of Bildwörterbuch Deutsch und Polnisch, an illustrated Polish-German dictionary from the mid-20th century. All entries are accompanied by photographs of Polish reality taken by the artist, none staged or photoshopped. The image/entry matches are surprising and amusing, with a hint at subversive irony, accurate illustrations as well as visual riddles. The photographic documentation Tobis has collected is in itself a record of changes to Polish landscape and mentality.

Title translations from Picture Vocabulary German and English with 181 black-and-white and 8 colour plates, Third Reprinted Edition (Leipzig: Veb Verlag Enzyklopädie, 1962).

77 30 die Mülltonne / The Dustbin

from A-Z series (Educational Cabinets), 2010, pigment inkjet print, dibond, 50 × 40 cm × 5 cm

The A–Z (Educational Cabinets) series is an artistic project in progress since November 2006. To date, Andrzej Tobis has collected and labelled several hundred photographs. The ever-expanding photograph series is an attempt at describing the world, naming phenomena and defining reality. Tobis found a formula and form for his endeavour in the first three editions of Bildwörterbuch Deutsch und Polnisch, an illustrated Polish-German dictionary from the mid-20th century. All entries are accompanied by photographs of Polish reality taken by the artist, none staged or photoshopped. The image/entry matches are surprising and amusing, with a hint at subversive irony, accurate illustrations as well as visual riddles. The photographic documentation Tobis has collected is in itself a record of changes to Polish landscape and mentality.

Title translations from Picture Vocabulary German and English with 181 black-and-white and 8 colour plates, Third Reprinted Edition (Leipzig: Veb Verlag Enzyklopädie, 1962).

174 18 der Satanspilz / The Satan's mushroom

from A-Z series A-Z (Educational Cabinets), 2012, pigment inkjet print, dibond, 50 × 40 cm × 5 cm

The A–Z (Educational Cabinets) series is an artistic project in progress since November 2006. To date, Andrzej Tobis has collected and labelled several hundred photographs. The ever-expanding photograph series is an attempt at describing the world, naming phenomena and defining reality. Tobis found a formula and form for his endeavour in the first three editions of Bildwörterbuch Deutsch und Polnisch, an illustrated Polish-German dictionary from the mid-20th century. All entries are accompanied by photographs of Polish reality taken by the artist, none staged or photoshopped. The image/entry matches are surprising and amusing, with a hint at subversive irony, accurate illustrations as well as visual riddles. The photographic documentation Tobis has collected is in itself a record of changes to Polish landscape and mentality.

Title translations from Picture Vocabulary German and English with 181 black-and-white and 8 colour plates, Third Reprinted Edition (Leipzig: Veb Verlag Enzyklopädie, 1962).

114 24 die Mundharmonika / The Mouth-Organ, Harmonica

from A-Z series (Educational Cabinets), 2006, pigment inkjet print, dibond / 50 × 40 cm × 5 cm

The A–Z (Educational Cabinets) series is an artistic project in progress since November 2006. To date, Andrzej Tobis has collected and labelled several hundred photographs. The ever-expanding photograph series is an attempt at describing the world, naming phenomena and defining reality. Tobis found a formula and form for his endeavour in the first three editions of Bildwörterbuch Deutsch und Polnisch, an illustrated Polish-German dictionary from the mid-20th century. All entries are accompanied by photographs of Polish reality taken by the artist, none staged or photoshopped. The image/entry matches are surprising and amusing, with a hint at subversive irony, accurate illustrations as well as visual riddles. The photographic documentation Tobis has collected is in itself a record of changes to Polish landscape and mentality.

Title translations from Picture Vocabulary German and English with 181 black-and-white and 8 colour plates, Third Reprinted Edition (Leipzig: Veb Verlag Enzyklopädie, 1962).

170 3 (3.A) die Limousine / The Limousine

from A-Z series (Educational Cabinets), 2013, pigment inkjet print, dibond, 40 × 50 cm × 5 cm

The A–Z (Educational Cabinets) series is an artistic project in progress since November 2006. To date, Andrzej Tobis has collected and labelled several hundred photographs. The ever-expanding photograph series is an attempt at describing the world, naming phenomena and defining reality. Tobis found a formula and form for his endeavour in the first three editions of Bildwörterbuch Deutsch und Polnisch, an illustrated Polish-German dictionary from the mid-20th century. All entries are accompanied by photographs of Polish reality taken by the artist, none staged or photoshopped. The image/entry matches are surprising and amusing, with a hint at subversive irony, accurate illustrations as well as visual riddles. The photographic documentation Tobis has collected is in itself a record of changes to Polish landscape and mentality.

Title translations from Picture Vocabulary German and English with 181 black-and-white and 8 colour plates, Third Reprinted Edition (Leipzig: Veb Verlag Enzyklopädie, 1962).

36 5 (3.A) der Vater / The Father

from A-Z series (Educational Cabinets), 2011, pigment inkjet print, dibond, 50 × 40 cm × 5 cm

The A–Z (Educational Cabinets) series is an artistic project in progress since November 2006. To date, Andrzej Tobis has collected and labelled several hundred photographs. The ever-expanding photograph series is an attempt at describing the world, naming phenomena and defining reality. Tobis found a formula and form for his endeavour in the first three editions of Bildwörterbuch Deutsch und Polnisch, an illustrated Polish-German dictionary from the mid-20th century. All entries are accompanied by photographs of Polish reality taken by the artist, none staged or photoshopped. The image/entry matches are surprising and amusing, with a hint at subversive irony, accurate illustrations as well as visual riddles. The photographic documentation Tobis has collected is in itself a record of changes to Polish landscape and mentality.

Title translations from Picture Vocabulary German and English with 181 black-and-white and 8 colour plates, Third Reprinted Edition (Leipzig: Veb Verlag Enzyklopädie, 1962).

105 9 der Torraum / The Goal Area

from A-Z series (Educational Cabinets), 2006, pigment inkjet print, dibond, 40 × 50 cm × 5 cm

The A–Z (Educational Cabinets) series is an artistic project in progress since November 2006. To date, Andrzej Tobis has collected and labelled several hundred photographs. The ever-expanding photograph series is an attempt at describing the world, naming phenomena and defining reality. Tobis found a formula and form for his endeavour in the first three editions of Bildwörterbuch Deutsch und Polnisch, an illustrated Polish-German dictionary from the mid-20th century. All entries are accompanied by photographs of Polish reality taken by the artist, none staged or photoshopped. The image/entry matches are surprising and amusing, with a hint at subversive irony, accurate illustrations as well as visual riddles. The photographic documentation Tobis has collected is in itself a record of changes to Polish landscape and mentality.

Title translations from Picture Vocabulary German and English with 181 black-and-white and 8 colour plates, Third Reprinted Edition (Leipzig: Veb Verlag Enzyklopädie, 1962).

73 23 das Bandeisen / The Band-Iron

from A-Z series (Educational Cabinets), 2012, pigment inkjet print, dibond, 50 × 40 cm × 5 cm

The A–Z (Educational Cabinets) series is an artistic project in progress since November 2006. To date, Andrzej Tobis has collected and labelled several hundred photographs. The ever-expanding photograph series is an attempt at describing the world, naming phenomena and defining reality. Tobis found a formula and form for his endeavour in the first three editions of Bildwörterbuch Deutsch und Polnisch, an illustrated Polish-German dictionary from the mid-20th century. All entries are accompanied by photographs of Polish reality taken by the artist, none staged or photoshopped. The image/entry matches are surprising and amusing, with a hint at subversive irony, accurate illustrations as well as visual riddles. The photographic documentation Tobis has collected is in itself a record of changes to Polish landscape and mentality.

Title translations from Picture Vocabulary German and English with 181 black-and-white and 8 colour plates, Third Reprinted Edition (Leipzig: Veb Verlag Enzyklopädie, 1962).

139 28-34 die Berufskleidung / The Professional Clothing

from A-Z series (Educational Cabinets), 2008, pigment inkjet print, dibond, 50 × 40 cm × 5 cm

The A–Z (Educational Cabinets) series is an artistic project in progress since November 2006. To date, Andrzej Tobis has collected and labelled several hundred photographs. The ever-expanding photograph series is an attempt at describing the world, naming phenomena and defining reality. Tobis found a formula and form for his endeavour in the first three editions of Bildwörterbuch Deutsch und Polnisch, an illustrated Polish-German dictionary from the mid-20th century. All entries are accompanied by photographs of Polish reality taken by the artist, none staged or photoshopped. The image/entry matches are surprising and amusing, with a hint at subversive irony, accurate illustrations as well as visual riddles. The photographic documentation Tobis has collected is in itself a record of changes to Polish landscape and mentality.

Title translations from Picture Vocabulary German and English with 181 black-and-white and 8 colour plates, Third Reprinted Edition (Leipzig: Veb Verlag Enzyklopädie, 1962).

179 27 der Sonnenuntergang / The Sunset

from A-Z series (Educational Cabinets), 2007, pigment inkjet print, dibond, 50 × 40 cm × 5 cm

The A–Z (Educational Cabinets) series is an artistic project in progress since November 2006. To date, Andrzej Tobis has collected and labelled several hundred photographs. The ever-expanding photograph series is an attempt at describing the world, naming phenomena and defining reality. Tobis found a formula and form for his endeavour in the first three editions of Bildwörterbuch Deutsch und Polnisch, an illustrated Polish-German dictionary from the mid-20th century. All entries are accompanied by photographs of Polish reality taken by the artist, none staged or photoshopped. The image/entry matches are surprising and amusing, with a hint at subversive irony, accurate illustrations as well as visual riddles. The photographic documentation Tobis has collected is in itself a record of changes to Polish landscape and mentality.

Title translations from Picture Vocabulary German and English with 181 black-and-white and 8 colour plates, Third Reprinted Edition (Leipzig: Veb Verlag Enzyklopädie, 1962).