tobias kappel is a berlin-based artist whose practice explores translation processes between various image forms and digital media. he utilizes imaging methods, photo editing tools and printing techniques in a process-oriented concept of image making. kappel appropriates the prevalent feeling of being 'in-between' as a backdrop to revolve around questions on photography, painting and perception. the outcome is a genre-fluid body of work that probes itself into the contemporary discourse on images per se or imagery that’s lost its categorization.

 

kleid vor rot (brush)_2013

 
 
 

schwarzmeer_2014/2019

 
 
 
 
 

nadine danach_2014/2019

 

re_2018

 
 

mamma roma, ripped (48:48)_2019

 
 

installation view of “epilogue” for frontviews at haunt, berlin_2020

 
 

melkus_2019

 
 

morphed clouds_2017

 

hello, world!_2017

 
 

hoelzern (error)_2017

 
 
 
 
 
 

hp brush #1_2017

 
 
 

serra, folded_2017

 
 
 
 

eisschelf_2017

 

ineinander_2017

 
 
 

tipping point_2018

 
 
 
 
 
 

blue crush_2020

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

untitled (iris #2004)_2020

 
 
 

untitled (iris 20201207-004b)_2020

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

vista_2019

 

glossy (toile #303)_2021

 
 
 

you (toile #314)_2021

and i (toile #313)_2021

 
 

hurt_2021

 
 

innate_2021

 
 

auflösung_2023 (berghain flyer)

 
 

hath_2022

 

elongate_2023

 

usoni_2023

 
 
 

self-awareness_2022

 
 

tobias kappel (b. 1987, potsdam, de) studied visual communication with a focus on multimedial photography/technical imagery at the muthesius kunsthochschule in kiel, germany. following his studies he was granted a daad-fellowship to live and work in new york city, usa in 2015, and he has exhibited at c/o berlin, raum für drastische maßnahmen, berlin; museum kunst der westküste, föhr; alfred ehrhardt stiftung, berlin; frontviews, berlin, and the contact photography festival, toronto; among others.
kappel extended his artistic practice in 2021 when he curated and took part in the exhibition “open-ended photography” at robert morat galerie, berlin. his thoughts on the multiplicity of image-making and the medium of photography have gained further recognition through contributions to the fotografie neu denken podcast, the c4 journal and fototreff berlin.
in 2024, kappel presented his first solo exhibition titled “inthein” in tokyo at loww gallery. on the occasion of the exhibition, a small reader was published as a collaborative project, expanding into the visual language of fabian maier-bode and with an extended essay by art historian luisa bachmann. it is available for download here: