In the words of German explorer Alexander von Humboldt (1769 - 1859), “The most dangerous worldview is the worldview of those who have never viewed the world.” This became my motto since I was a child. I mean, living self-consciously in this world in observing, focusing, reflecting and dealing with my own life as a permanent creative process of exploration. Then I thought later privately, socially or politically, through which discoveries were of real interest to me and if it was clear enough about what it was or still is to me then I start to draft creative concepts and start making images to translate all these thoughts into a kind of frame.

Always.Theatre-Festival Director and Curator Dieter Jaenicke (Germany / Brasil) descriped this ambivalent relationship - working with other artists - very well in his preface "Far Beyond the Moment" for my "Please don't move" project in 2000: "Consequently the relationship between photographers and other artists like directors or choreographers is often tense, complicated, fused with jealousy or mistrust. The one makes use of the other’s art for his own form of artistic expression. Photographer Thomas Fuesser found a completely individual way to resolve this complicated relationship creatively."

Thank you, Dieter again for your kind words. My leading thought to avoid any possible conflicts in this work is always determined by communication, cooperation and respect. And what necessarily always should remain is the curiosity to explore and to learn something new.

It was the Italian cinematographer (DoP) and "magician" Carlo di Palma (1925-2004), renowned for his work on both color and black-and-white films, whose most famous collaborations were with Michelangelo Antonioni (Blow-Up 1966) and Woody Allen (Radio Days 1987). Also Michael Ballhaus especially for his DoP collaboration with Martin Scorcese (Color of Money 1986 and Good Felllas 1990) and filmdirector Wim Wenders with his ‘Notebook on Clothes and Cities’ (1989) an essayist documentary reflecting on the creative process, cities, identity and the digital age through conversations with Japanese fashion designer Yohji Yamamoto. Wenders' search for a contemporary definition of identity as following his prediction of the uprising digital revolution inspired me a lot.

For commercial projects, I always try to consider that the final product and my service to assist in realisation should be worthwhile. Every project should come with a clear determined but reasonable timeline and budget. I want to work with different kinds of people in a good and respectful atmosphere of trust. For all sides.

Here is an little overview on 4 sections of Corporate, Art, Publishing & Editorial and Educational Clients.

Corporate:
PUPDI Shanghai Pudong Urban Planning & Design Institute,
McCann Erickson ad agency,
ZENDAI GROUP Shanghai,
Porsche Shanghai,
The Buettenpaper Factory GMUND,
TBWA ad agency,
PX-Group Germany,
EXPO 2010 Shanghai (Pavillion projects) ,
DEKRA China,
T-Mobile International AG,
Steinberg Media Technologies (Cubase),
Bertelsmann AG Germany,
BMG Music Publishing (now Universal Music Group),
Visa Inc., USA,
Springer & Jacoby ad agency,
GMG Color Asia,
MSB&K ad agency,
EXPO 2000 Hannover,
Dr. Oetker GmbH Germany,
Heye & Partner ad agency,
Douglas Holding AG Germany,
Jung von Matt ad agency,
Pelikan Germany,
Wilkens Ayer ad agency,
Ritter Sport Brand,
Windi Winderlich Design Cooperation,
BBDO ad agency.

Arts:
MoCA Museum Shanghai,
ART Basel Hong Kong 2013,
ShanghART Gallery Shanghai / Beijing / Singapore,
HELLERAU - European Center for the Arts,
Dresden Germany,
Long March Space Beijing,
Academy of Arts Berlin,
EFA European Academy of Film Berlin,
House of the Cultures of the World Berlin,
ARTHOUSE Hamburg,
ISTF - International Summer Theatre Festival Hamburg,
Ministry for Cultural Affairs of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, Photokina Cologne, The States Opera Hamburg, Theatre Essen Germany,
Pingyao International Photo Festival China,
Lianzhou International Photo Festival China,
Design Center NRW Essen Germany,
The Jerusalem Foundation Israel.

Publishing & Editorial:
Skira Editore S.p.A. Milan and Rizzoli International Publications New York,
The Corriere della Sera Magazine Milan,
VOGUE Conde Nast,
Forbes Magazine,
The Observer Magazine London,
The Independent Magazine London,
Axel Springer Publishing House,
ZEIT Magazine Hamburg,
TEMPO Magazine Hamburg,
The Frankfurter Allgemeine Newspaper,
STERN - Magazine Hamburg.


Educational:
Goethe Institute Inter Nationes Singapore,
NAFA Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts Singapore,
Lasalle - SIA College of Art Singapore,
The Design College of Temasek Polytechnic Singapore,
The International School of Communication Design (ISCD) and Design Factory International (DFI), Dept. of Beijing Normal University (BNU),
Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province,
The New York University (NYU) Shanghai

Although I’d love to meet all kinds of people, I have a small studio and cannot do visits. Interviews on email and appointment only. You are most welcome to go to the "CONTACT" section of this website. Thank you.

Yes. A varied selection of private Art-Tours can be organised and booked directly through my CONTACT link. Art tours are related to temporary occasions and exhibitions of Galleries and Museums which are changing frequently. Please put “Art Tours: Your Name Here” as the title into your contact request. For group requests in case of more then 4 people you should contact me through the service of SHANGHAI FLANEUR

Do your work with love and passion. Be motivated, alert and communicate. Share your ideas between brain and heart equally. Always work with respect towards people. And open your eyes and ears. Look and listen first and talk later. If you don't understand something, ask questions. But don't forget to ask. Look outside of your world of photography, film or design. Be interested in our beautiful planet and in all the varieties of life concepts. Life in generell is too colourful as to ignore lot's of other aspects which might help you to find great creative ideas for solutions in your work requirements.

Yes, sure. My new art-project starting point is from Summer 2014. I will organize the first steps for “SHORT CUTS II" as artist meetings between Shanghai-New York City 2014-2016, where I'd like to meet with several young artists based in Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan to visit them in their studio or work space to share information and exchange ideas on any possible participation in my new artist photo-book project "SHORT CUTS II". To find out further details and upcoming dates, please contact me by Email with the title 'SHORT CUTS II > and your name'.

As a small studio I do hire only freelance assistants on daily or monthly basis, of job-by-job only, but I'm always on the lookout for talented people to work with. Email me a link to your website to info@thomasfuesser.com. Please put “Assistant: Your Name Here” as the title. Thank you.

Maybe - Director Alain Platel's quote as part of his open letter to Pina Bausch published in my book "Please don't move" (2000):

"Whatever we decide to do next, we’d better do it well!" 

I always try to choose good collaborators. Some of the best collaborators are the ones who disagree with me sometimes. It shows they’re passionate, they have opinions, and they’ll only ever say yes if they mean it.