A look at the latest photobook from Berlin-based photographer Max Zerrahn (previously featured here). “Musical Chairs” strikes a poetic yet humorous view of the hidden life of things, liberating them from their human-imposed roles. A pointed engagement with the medium of photography, Zerrahn embraces its inherent ability to capture and depict reality. Similar to the children’s game of musical chairs, where a chair is removed in each round, the book is divided into chapters with decreasing page numbers.

“Drawing parallels with classical fairy tales reminiscent of the Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Anderson and Toy Story, inanimate objects begin to take on a life of their own. The urban space transforms into a stage, devoid of human presence, yet secretly coming alive. ‘Musical Chairs’ leverages the representational character of photography, the images remain true to the subject without being aesthetically over-romanticized.”