Erik Schubert – How to Win Friends and Influence People

Copyright 2013 Erik Schubert

Photographer: Erik Schubert (b. Omaha, Nebraska resides Denver, Colorado, USA)

Publisher: Lavallette (USA)

Text: English

Stiffcover book with French folds, perfect bound, four-color lithography, printed in Syracuse, NY (USA)

Photobook designer: Lavalette

Notes: The investigation of the corporate business world has continued to intrigue me for some time, having worked in the corporate environment for many, many years as my day job. It was one of the underlying reasons that I curated the photobook exhibition “Work” in Rome for Fotografia Festival Internazionale. In the case of Erik Schubert’s first photobook, he investigates this subject viscerally through his father’s experiences utilizing found and constructed artifacts.

Schubert photographs objects that have layered meanings for him, his father and the role of a professional sales person. He also investigates the personal desire to go beyond a current business role, such as develop a pyramid marketing group or an idea for a device or service that might become an avenue to financial success and wealth. The idea that you can truly develop a “better mouse trap” and benefit by it is very alluring to many entrepreneurs, but is a fleeting concept to visual capture.

He captures a strange mash-up and dispassionate view of trade shows booths and cheap trinkets that are covered with corporate logos and slogans. The environment context that surrounds these sites of enterprise are framed to appear as a place that is less than inspiring, if not outright depressing. He also includes photographs that leave me scratching my head, as I am not sure of the relevance or connection with his subject but to assume that these are unusual metaphors for some aspect related to the acts of business. In some ways, perhaps like Ed Ruscha’s earlier photobooks, the inclusion of such strange photographic images creates a strong curiosity and continued interest in this photobook.

Cheers