Introduction by Michael Werner (2013), Editor in Chief of Two Way Lens: Oliver Weber's new and evolving series Social Life at Beach is a wonderful documentary about the touristic life on the Canary Islands of Spain. Every year hundreds of thousands of tourists, mostly from Germany, England and meanwhile also from Russia, take over the Canary Islands and turn them into the perfect object for observation on Social Life at Beach. La Gomera based photographer Oliver Weber made this subject the theme for his newest series. The result are captivating photographs that show this bizarre, surreal, sometimes melancholic and always fascinating world of tourism with all its side effects and cliches. The series was created on the Canary Island of Tenerife. This is an area whose economy is mainly funded by all-inclusive tourism. And is also particularly frequented by long-term vacationers, who want to escape the long, cold and grey European winter. Arrive at the airport, then a guided bus ride of up to one hour to the hotel complex. There, unpack the suitcases, put the swimwear on and head to the beach. In the evenings, dress-up for the buffet, then afterwards perhaps, a drink at the bar and then off to bed to be ready to follow the same procedure the next day. Day by day by day. The freedom of the all-inclusive holiday lies precisely in the lack of freedom that you have outside the limitations provided by what the hotel has chosen to include. The various little hassles of daily life and work are taken away and so there is a lot of time to be spent lavishly on having a very organized time with nothing to do. This is one way to spend a holiday! Review by Grzegorz K. Kosmala (2013), Editor in Chief of doc! Photo Magazine: Social Life at Beach by Oliver Weber (doc! #11) is coming back as a book! Beach and its surroundings - these are the places which serve Oliver as fields of surveillance. What one can observe there? Human behaviour. Oliver is a patient observer. From hundreds or sometimes thousands of observed objects he is able to pick out those which carry a good deal of humour or make you think. By his photos, Oliver shows us a picture of a today's beach-tourist. The beach reveals uncommon human instincts. After getting rid of clothes, people get rid of barriers regulating their norms of behaviour in their everyday life at home, work etc. The pictures Oliver gives us intrigue. But simultaneously - they are like a warning: mind your behaviour in case Oliver is nearby with his camera ready to shot. Quotes by: Bill Gates, Linda Gerber, Ernest Hemingway, Gilbert K. Chesterton, Winston Churchill, Dean Martin, Gustave Flaubert, Rachel Carson, Justin Timberlake, Klaus Kinski, Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, Woody Allen, Mark Batterson, Isaac Newton, Ron White, Woody Allen, Madeleine Albright, Frank Sinatra, Russell Baker. Video presentation of the book: http: //www.olicito.de/new-book
Oliver Weber is a photographer who hails from Munich, Germany. Currently he lives and works on the Canary Island of La Gomera. His specialty areas are reportage, portrait and what has come to be recognized as street photography. He has become more widely known through numerous features with reputable magazines and publishing houses, like DIE ZEIT, DER SPIEGEL, SÜDDEUTSCHE ZEITUNG, El PAIS, PREMIERE (FRANCE) and MERIAN. Oliver was invited to take part on several international "solo" and "group" exihibitions including his work, like the DOCUMENTA (13) in Kassel, Germany (one of the world's most important exhibitions for contemporary art) and the PHOTOKINA in Cologne, Germany (the world's largest trade fair for the photographic and imaging industries). Web: www.olicito.de
