In entering the the artist space Imago1:1 without any prior knowledge of it, you’d probably think that you’re standing in front of a UFO rather than a large format camera. This unique and presumably the world’s largest camera, 7x4x3m in dimension, was built in the seventies by a physicist Werner Kraus and a goldsmith Erhard Hößle. Due to the discontinuation of the special black-and-white photo paper needed, the camera fell into a deep sleep for almost two decades. It was only five years ago that Susanne Kraus, the inventor’s daughter, finally resurrected it – thanks to Ilford who restarted the photo paper production. Now the device is once again available for self-portraits to be taken inside the camera itself. You enter the machine and while seeing your reflection in a non-reversing mirror (!) you strike a pose and shoot the portrait yourself. This way you’re a model and a photographer in one, and after a short wait you can see your image on a life-size 60x200cm print. Similar to Polaroid, every picture is unique.

Imago 1:1, Prinzenstraße 85, 10969 Berlin-Kreuzberg; map
Visiting hours: Mon-Sat 13-18h, Portrait by appointment: Mon-Sat 10-13h and 18-21h

Text: Helena Franke / Photos: Imago1:1, upper left: Helena Franke
Published in Cee Cee #19 on 25.8.2011