Physiognomies (Physiognomien)

Appearances can be deceiving. Jürgen Klauke’s important early performance piece explores the fluidity of gender and sexuality, and his choice of materials extends this subversion of expectations. Playing with costume, makeup, and pose, Klauke challenges the signs that traditionally define gender identity. Similarly, the pictures appear to be black-and-white photographs but were in fact printed on color paper. Over time, the dyes that form the image might degrade, altering the work’s current gray tonality and creating unwanted casts of color. To avoid this, conservators keep Klauke’s prints in cold storage, with color photographs.