Luxembourgish photographer Michel Medinger passed away this January at the age of 83, leaving behind a vast body of work filled with striking, often macabre and surreal imagery.
As part of the European Month of Photography, a selection of his natures mortes and self-portraits is now on display at Villa Vauban under the title Vanitas. The exhibition was previously shown in a similar form in 2024 at the renowned photography festival in Arles.
For more than 40 years, Michel Medinger worked as a photographer, developing his prints in his own private darkroom. Yet his artistic beginnings were rooted in classical painting. Alongside his father, he spent time at home copying works by Rembrandt, becoming fascinated with the play of light. As such, light plays a key role in his work: shadows are deliberately used to add drama, and controlled lighting techniques bring out specific details.
As is typical of Vanitas art, many of the works in this exhibition explore themes of mortality. However, Medinger often chose flowers as a recurring motif, evoking the Latin phrase memento mori – “remember you must die”.
Beyond art, Medinger also pursued sport. In fact, he competed as a middle-distance runner at the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo. This athletic background influenced his artistic process. He was known as a perfectionist, endlessly refining his compositions until they matched his precise vision.
While he aimed for control in every detail, the unexpected still found its way into his work, producing unique images, many of which can be admired in this exhibition.
A lifelong fascination with the macabre increasingly shaped his output, and over time he dedicated himself more and more to the creation of Vanitas-themed works. Hence the fitting title of the exhibition, which brings together some of the defining motifs of his career.
Villa Vauban, known for its permanent collection of 18th- and 19th-century paintings, provides a fitting setting for Medinger’s work, particularly given his early admiration for Rembrandt. His photographs are displayed alongside classical works, including a nature morte by French artist Ferdinand Heilbuth, creating a visual dialogue between the two artists.
Medinger’s art is strange, provocative, and not to everyone’s taste. Yet during his lifetime, he achieved recognition both in Luxembourg and abroad.
Vanitas is on view at Villa Vauban until 15 June.
