Allan Sekula Performance Under Working Conditions

Allan Sekula's works are among the most discussed in the field of contemporary art. In his combination of photography and text, he explores the issue of documentary forms, which particularly now is of great relevance. In addition, his works make controversial contributions to current debates on economic, social, and cultural globalization. Only when these two aspects are viewed together do the themes dealt with by Allan Sekula fully disclose themselves. This publication gives an overview ranging from early performances and actions carried out in the context of the anti-Vietnam War movement, to works focusing on working world, to his most recent works dealing with international shipping. Particular attention is paid to an aspect of Sekula's oeuvre that is often underestimated: his interest in the theatrical, which acts as a counterbalance to the documentary side of his work and brings in other elements of humor and subtle irony. Many of Sekula's texts are presented here for the first time in German translation.