Born in Austria in 1979. Lives and works in Linz, Austria. Studied at the Linz University of Art and Design and the Leipzig Academy of Fine Arts (Master Class Prof. Joachim Brohm).

Paul Kranzler is one of the few contemporary photographers who convincingly carries the tradition of 20th-century documentary photography into today’s art. His work is deeply dedicated to social groups that, for various reasons, struggle to find their place in society. The images, often described as unflinching, are the result of a sensitive and sincere engagement with people and their environments. Through years of immersion in specific milieus or individuals, his series gain both documentary depth and strong narrative power.

His photographs for INSIGHTS were taken in 2018 at two locations in Vienna that are closely associated with wienerberger and its history: at the Wienerberg brick pond and the Blue Pond near the Bohemian Prater, a small amusement park on the outskirts of Vienna. For decades, two of the biggest brick factories of the time were located there. “These places, where people lived in utter misery and worked under ruthless circumstances for a long time, have become a refuge for those seeking physical recreation and a slower pace of life. It’s wonderful”, says Paul Kranzler.

www.paulkranzler.com