LARS EIDINGER – WHO'S THERE?

The Final Chapter of a Photographic Trilogy

“Who’s there?” is the question that opens Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”. A man then enters the stage as its representative, confronting the fundamental question of being or not being. When Hamlet holds the skull of the deceased court jester Yorick before him, it becomes a gesture of self-reflection: the fool contemplating the fool.

With Who’s there?, Lars Eidinger presents the third volume in his trilogy of photobooks, following Autistic Disco and O Mensch. At the heart of these publications lies an exploration of human existence.

The new photographs, taken with smartphones and DSLR cameras, were captured in cities including Tokyo, Kyoto, Shanghai, Istanbul, Berlin, London, Tehran, Sydney, and Paris. Whether depicting everyday scenes or fleeting moments, Eidinger draws attention to the marginal and the seemingly insignificant, magnifying details that might otherwise go unnoticed. Cinematic and theatrical elements come together in a distinctive visual rhythm that transforms the ordinary into a paradoxical world.

Introduction by Peter Sloterdijk

In his introductory essay, Peter Sloterdijk describes Eidinger as a “master of the photographic anecdote”: “He encounters things in those moments when they become eloquent without having entire stories to tell.”

For Lars Eidinger, photography is a mirror: “Every image is a self-portrait of the viewer. Its meaning changes depending on who is looking at it. Just as we encounter ourselves in different guises in dreams, we encounter ourselves in photography.”

Conclusion of a Successful Trilogy

The three volumes Autistic Disco, O Mensch, and Who’s there?, all produced in the same format and following the same concept of a rigorous sequencing of photographs, document the evolution of an artistic body of work that began with Eidinger’s first exhibition at Neuer Aachener Kunstverein in 2019.

Together, the publications reflect his highly individual perspective on the world, forming a multifaceted kaleidoscope of contemporary life.

Current Exhibition: Present Perfect

On October 10, 2026, the solo exhibition “Present Perfect. Im Dialog mit der Sammlung” opened at Kunsthalle Tübingen (on view through February 28, 2027).

Selected groups of works from Eidinger’s photographic oeuvre enter into dialogue with works from the Kunsthalle’s collection, spanning the 1960s to the present day. These include works by Gilbert & George, Yves Klein, Franz Erhard Walther, Katja Strunz, and Ben Willikens.

About Lars Eidinger

Lars Eidinger (b. 1976, Berlin) is considered one of Germany’s most distinguished actors. A long-standing member of the Berliner Schaubühne ensemble, he captivates audiences with his expressive performances in “Hamlet”, “Richard III”, and “The Miser”.

On screen, he portrays enigmatic characters marked by an almost artificial sensibility, most recently appearing internationally as Brainiac in the latest film adaptation of Superman.

Whether on stage or in front of the camera, in the director’s chair or at the mixing desk, every appearance is a tour de force that electrifies audiences in an almost magical way.

His photographs and video works have been exhibited at venues including K21 of the Kunstsammlung NRW, Hamburger Kunsthalle, and Galerie Ruttkowski;68.