Galerie XII Los Angeles is pleased to present the first US exhibition of prints from the series The Fourth
Wall by Hamburg-based photographer Klaus Frahm. An opening reception with the artist will be
held at the gallery on March 16th, the same evening when the artist’s son, renowned neo-classical
pianist Nils Frahm makes his debut performance with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. A hi-fidelity
sound system installed in the gallery will provide musical context to the prints on view creating a
multi-sensory exhibition experience.
Since 2010, Klaus Frahm has been photographing classical theaters and opera houses across Europe
for the series, The Fourth Wall. Coming from the tradition of architectural photography, he uses
prominently an analog 4×5” camera to control the perspective and capture minute details.
Composing from the back of the stage facing the audience, his series presents a striking visual
commentary on the design and dramatic theory of the invisible wall between the audience and
performers. The Fourth Wall, a term common among actors, had been invented in 1892 by the French
dramatist Jean Jullien: the actors should behave on stage like in a room with four walls, the fourth is
transparent only to the audience.
