Peter Funch - Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow

Signature
27 mars 2025
18h - 20h

For the first time, Peter Funch’s iconic photographic series Babel Tales and 42nd and Vanderbilt are brought together in a single book. The publication features texts by Professor Mette Sandbye, architect Ane Cortzen, author and art historian William Pym, gallerist Jesper Elg, and the internationally renowned authors Douglas Coupland and Paul Auster.

Since the beginning of his career, Peter Funch has impressed audiences with his photographic series, which, rooted in street photography, capture incredible situations and seemingly random encounters between people in urban spaces. With a sharp eye for detail and the decisive moment, Funch creates photographs that appear as spontaneous snapshots but are, in fact, the result of years of meticulous observation and precision.

Babel Tales was initiated in 2006 and completed in 2024. The series consists of now-iconic photographs where time and space merge into extraordinary moments. The series 42nd and Vanderbilt, created between 2007 and 2016, presents daily observations of Manhattan’s morning rush hour. From the same street corner, Funch spent years documenting repeated actions and routines, forming a fascinating portrait of human behavior amidst the chaos of city life.

Together, the two series constitute a powerful visual exploration of the relationship between the individual and the collective. While Babel Tales portrays collective moments and layered narratives, 42nd and Vanderbilt focuses on individuals and their daily rituals. These series are particularly relevant today as they prompt reflections on the tension between the individual and the collective, between self and society, and on power dynamics and surveillance.

Funch’s striking images continue to convey themes of unity and connection, countering the divisive forces of our time. Simultaneously, they probe the ways in which we each feel increasingly watched by unfamiliar eyes. The role of the photographer is not neutral, and these works challenge us: What do Funch’s photographs reveal to us today that we were too distracted to notice before?

Bringing these two projects together in a single volume offers a unique opportunity to revisit and reinterpret them. The combination of the series opens up new readings that both reflect and challenge our understanding of the themes they explore, inviting reflection on the world we live in today.

The book also includes a chapter featuring archival and process material such as experiments, notes, drawings, and collages—all elements that have been directly worked on by Peter Funch. Together, these pieces form a visual and conceptual timeline documenting the creative process behind Babel Tales and 42nd and Vanderbilt.

This collection not only highlights the individual strengths of each series but also underscores their shared ability to delve into complex topics such as surveillance, power structures, and the individual’s role in public spaces. It offers a renewed perspective on everyday life and fosters meaningful conversations about the relationship between the personal and the collective.

First edition, 1000 copies
30 cm × 23 cm
256 pages
Hardcover

Published February 2025

ISBN 978-87-85336-00-2

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