Geister / Ghosts

David Schalko, known as the director and writer of series such as Altes Geld and Braunschlag, is releasing his first photo book, Geister. It is the collection of an obsession: Schalko’s creatures, which he continuously and everywhere discovers, are stains and marks on streets, in backyards, and most prominently on house walls and in stairwells. Through his close-up shots, these details transform into independent objects, faces, or scenes. The photos are accompanied by captions in Schalko’s distinctive blend of irony and depth. In this way, his creatures tell us stories and make us smile. A truly extraordinary photo and art book!

The photographs depict stains and deposits of dirt or paint on everyday surfaces. This rough aesthetic is echoed in the book design: the linen cover mimics the texture of the asphalt motif on the cover. The book block has been trimmed, revealing the gray cardboard at the cut edges of the hardcover.

Since most photos were taken with a smartphone, they are intentionally not displayed full-page, preserving a poetic atmosphere—similar to that of a photo-poetry book.