Explore the question of authenticity in Jeff Wall's photographs, as they portray a world that appeared to be real, yet may exist only in his creative mind.
Canadian artist Jeff Wall's photography is currently the centre of attention at Lisbon's Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology (MAAT), with the exhibition 'Jeff Wall. Time Stands Still. Photographs, 1980-2023' running until 1st September 2025. This extensive showcase features over sixty works from the last four decades, offering visitors a captivating journey through Wall's thematic exploration of complex narratives and social issues.
Wall's photographs, often themed around religion, loss, and cultural identity, blur the lines between staged and documentary photography, creating images that feel both cinematic and deeply thoughtful. His works are meticulously crafted, with moments of seemingly instinctive moments cutting through them, adding a layer of intrigue and unpredictability.
Two standout pieces in the exhibition are "Insomnia" (1994) and "Event" (2021). These photographs, like many of Wall's works, depict elaborate, carefully composed scenes that resemble theatrical or cinematic tableaux, influenced by painting traditions. "Insomnia" features a man lying in a foetal position underneath a spindly kitchen table, while "Event" depicts one man jabbing another's chest in a theatrical building hallway.
Wall's approach involves creating scenes that comment on social realities or historical moments, turning his photos into "imaginary monuments" or visual stories that never actually happened but are plausible and evocative. This gives a sense that "Insomnia" and "Event" likely draw from Wall's characteristic blending of fiction and reality to explore psychological or social themes.
The exhibition also includes photographs of energetic figures dancing at gigs and tumbling in conflict in the street, as well as Wall's iconic image 'Dead Troops Talk (A Vision After an Ambush of a Red Army Patrol, Near Moqor, Afghanistan, Winter 1986)', which finds renewed interest during times of war. This piece, created from Wall's imagination, conveys a palpable, real horror, as a pile of zombie-like soldiers loll and glare at one another.
Jeff Wall believes photography is more than just a reproduction medium and has learned a lot from painting, appreciating its freedom of scale and independence from the publishing industry. His work has been compared to painting, particularly in terms of dramatic compositions, size, and focus on the original, in-person experience. Reality and fiction are intricately intertwined in Wall's pieces, with many being backlit and printed at large scale to feel like spaces the viewer could walk into.
Visitors can subscribe to MAAT's newsletter for daily inspiration, escapism, and design stories. The exhibition's website is maat.pt. Wall still prints his own works, preferring film cameras, and prefers not to define his work thematically or in terms of his feelings about the events or circumstances depicted. Instead, he invites viewers to engage with his photographs and draw their own conclusions.
In sum, Jeff Wall's thematic focus is on unpacking social, cultural, and historical narratives through meticulously crafted photographic tableaux, inspired by art history, cinema, and social commentary. His works like "Insomnia" and "Event" are part of this larger project to use photography as a medium for meaningful storytelling and critical reflection.
Jeff Wall's photographs, such as "Insomnia" and "Event", exhibit a blend of cinematic allure and thoughtful commentary, creating a captivating form of entertainment that challenges viewers' perceptions. These intricate works, crafted with a nuanced fusion of reality and fiction, serve as visual narratives, exploring social and psychological themes in an immersive and evocative manner.
