This site was created to safeguard, honor and present the work of Dr. Juergen Schlichting, a scientist and researcher by profession, a street photographer and writer by calling. Most of the striking black and white images that are exhibited here are part of his early work covering the 1950's until the late 1960's. A selection of color photographs from the 1970's to the 1980's has also been included.
The film negatives have been developed by himself in his own dark room and not in a laboratory. Some of the negatives are more than 50 years old. It was his wish to see his images published one day when they were "good enough to be shown to a public". Being the perfectionist he was, he followed with his photography the same high standards as with his work.
His portfolio is so intriguing and enchanting because it covers such a wide range of continents and countries. Considering the time period during which he traveled his voyages can be seen as extraordinary. To visit far and distant places like Cambodia, Taiwan, Somalia and Japan in the 1950's and 1960's, was probably perceived more than unusual by the average citizen at the time.
Although he had seen so many beautiful countries it was Island, the mystical land in the far North, with hot water springs, snowy mountains and all it's fairy tales, that drew him close. Island was the country where he felt he had found home, where he had become one with the sacred earth.
The title for this site and the book originates from a poem that he wrote about Island called: The Way Home - Der Weg nach Hause. The way home can lead you through many foreign lands but you will know when you have found the place which is home for you.
The motivation for this book can be traced many years back. It has its origin in a bond between a child and a talented, passionate young man, that was unfortunately not destined to last a long time, but which was nevertheless of great meaning and sense to both of them.
The task that he left for me was to tell the story of his personal legend and to continue what he had begun. He had found his personaI legend, to use the words of a great writer Paolo Coelho which he surely would have loved to read had he lived long enough.
It is the right time now to exhibit his work. I choose this moment because I feared I might loose my courage to curate his outstanding work and the years would pass. I wish for myself that I will develop my potential to the fullest and become a photographer as great as he was already in his young years. This is for him and to remember his work. The only regret I have is that I can not see him taking anymore photos.
Having said that this, there is one last thing to mention, may these images and words bring pleasure and happiness to my wonderful aunt Renate. To both of them I am eternally grateful.
The task that he left for me was to tell the story of his personal legend and to continue what he had begun. He had found his personaI legend, to use the words of a great writer Paolo Coelho which he surely would have loved to read had he lived long enough.
It is the right time now to exhibit his work. I choose this moment because I feared I might loose my courage to curate his outstanding work and the years would pass. I wish for myself that I will develop my potential to the fullest and become a photographer as great as he was already in his young years. This is for him and to remember his work. The only regret I have is that I can not see him taking anymore photos.
Having said that this, there is one last thing to mention, may these images and words bring pleasure and happiness to my wonderful aunt Renate. To both of them I am eternally grateful.
