Qatar Contemporary: Art and Photography Mobile Guide – Центральный выставочный зал «Манеж»

Torsten Spiller (Germany)

40 years in Qatar; Street Portraits, Downtown Doha; Iftar food distribution

Torsten Spiller is an accomplished street portraitist. An employee of Deutsche Bahn working for Qatar Rail, he started serious photography in 2007. He works with film from 35mm to 4x5 format, in colour and B&W, which he processes himself. Many of his photographs are taken on photo walks organised with other Qatar photographers.

Torsten's portraits powerfully convey the personality and diversity of men from Qatar's working communities. The strong lines engraved on the men's faces reflect the lives they have led and add to the immediacy of the studies. His series illustrating "Iftar food distribution" depicts both the confusion and camaraderie of this Ramadan tradition, in which free meals are distributed to the faithful to break their fast at sunset.