Juergen Teller. Photo by Franziska Sinn
Juergen Teller is not only one of the world’s premier photographers, he’s also a die-hard football fan. So it’s no surprise that last summer saw him watching the World Cup finals with son Ed, flying to Berlin to celebrate with the champions and getting a fan tattoo. Thanks to Juergen Teller’s photographs, we can now bear witness to all this with his new book “Siegerflieger”. But even for Teller, football is not everything: there’s also pictures of family visits to his native Bubenreuth, Teller partying with his students in Nuremberg, a wedding and various images of sausages and cold cut platters. Somehow, he also managed to include model Stella Tennant in all this madness. Though the most striking images are those that show him and his son cheering along as the Nationalmannschaft wins the finals against Argentina, their faces alternately distorted by hope and disappointment during the match, to grimacing with ecstasy after the final whistle. Sleek met the photographer prior to his book signing at Contemporary Fine Arts in Berlin to talk about football induced euphoria and smashed-up cars.
How does a British supermodel end up in front of a television with the finals running – wearing nothing but a pair of boxer shorts with the German flag on them?
My mum called me from a German supermarket asking whether I wanted those shorts. “Sure! Send them over”, I said. I then used them to shoot Stella Tennant for System magazine – complete with sneakers, also in black, red and gold. After the shoot she was putting her trousers back on – still wearing the boxer shorts. I told her “Stella, you can’t keep them. I need those.” I would only let her have them after she promised to wear them should Germany make it into the finals. Which she did.
You live in London, which might not always be the best environment for fans of the German football team. Have you ever had any bad experiences?
In 1996, when we beat the English team in the semi-finals of the Euro championship, my car was completely smashed – it had a German license plate. Now everything is a bit more relaxed. It’s also thanks to the beautiful football the Germans are playing. My friends have no problem with admiring it!
Juergen Teller: Siegerflieger. Copyright 2015 Juergen Teller
What about your son – he’s growing up in England with an English mother – has he always been a Germany supporter?
When Germany played England in the World Cup in 2010 we were watching the game over at Darren Almond’s studio. The only Germans were me and my assistant – in a room with 30 England fans. Ed, who was six at the time, sat with my wife when the game started. During half time, the score was two – nil to Germany, he came over asking to sit with us. He’s been a supporter of the Nationalmannschaft ever since.
The title of the book – “Siegerflieger” – is a reference to the airplane that the national team used to fly back to Berlin. And there are also images of the welcome party at the Brandenburger Tor.
After our victory against Argentina I was completely hungover but also felt the urge to do something. When I read that the national team would be flying to Berlin and that there would be a big party, I got in touch with Christoph Amend, the editor of Zeit Magazin to see whether he could get me in. But apparently it was too late already. That killed my euphoria. Total downer.
Then I got another call – one of the officials is a fan of my work it seems – and they made an exception for me. I was so excited I couldn’t sleep. In my fantasy I thought I would be right there with the players, celebrating with them together! I ended up in the photographer’s pit with a hundred others. They had those big cameras with telephoto lenses and I just had this little one. Not exactly what I had hoped for. So much for being Juergen Teller!
Have you ever thought about working with players like Schweinsteiger in a different context – like in the studio?
It’s definitely something I have thought about. But I think it’s much better to watch them perform their art on the pitch. Have them do what they’re good at and be happy seeing it on television. In the studio they would just be normal guys – and maybe not that interesting.
Final question: do you also watch women’s football?
Actually, yes! I just like watching sports in general.
Interview by Hans Bussert
Juergen Teller “Siegerflieger” is published by Steidl, 2015. The book was presented at Contemporary Fine Arts on 7 February 2015.
More: review of Butt magazine’s book, Butt Forever