In LIAR / LÜGNER Ruth Erdt portrays lies and liars. The book is composed of analogue photography of Erdt’s close acquaintances, unknown figures and landscapes; it questions what, if any, fundamental truth lies in photography. The publication is presented as an arrangement of single black and white and colour pictures interspersed with two-part spreads, which lead towards the central layout. Here a shot of a handful of organic material in liquid is presented in black and white on one page and in colour on the other, illustrating the reproduction that occurs throughout the book as the same prints are shown in and without colour. In her artistic practice Erdt works digitally and with film, and chose images made using the latter for this project because the light that reaches, touches and permeates film in the camera is the last vestige of truth in photography. Paging through LIAR the reader is given few reference points with which they can decipher where reality might be found in these images, leading them to wonder if authenticity can be expected from the medium of photography per se.   

Ruth Erdt (born 1966) lives and works in Zurich and Berlin. She studied graphic design and photography at the ZHdK, Zurich University of the Arts. Her work has been exhibited throughout Europe including at the Fotostiftung Schweiz, Fotomuseum Winterthur, Migros Museum Museum für Gegenwartskunst and Haus Konstruktiv among others. Ruth Erdt has been awarded several Swiss federal art awards. LIAR / LÜGNER is her first publication with Kodoji Press.