dialogue
»...his portraits are his way of reaching out to his audience - somewhat akin to a dialogue between two people. ... His faces are timeless documents of everyday people - from the sad, old man looking folornly at his empty bottle, to the contented fisherman in Penang to a group of children huddled together at play, the photographer seems to have done a good job on his subjects. ... Barthelmes's photographs have the certain kind of "energy" which do not just show the surface of a face. ... Surprisingly, the famous is not an important factor here, especially for those who appreciate quality photographs. ...«
THE SUN - KUALA LUMPUR
Nov 30, 1999
for the "faces" - exhibition
dialogue
»...his portraits are his way of reaching out to his audience - somewhat akin to a dialogue between two people. ... His faces are timeless documents of everyday people - from the sad, old man looking folornly at his empty bottle, to the contented fisherman in Penang to a group of children huddled together at play, the photographer seems to have done a good job on his subjects. ... Barthelmes's photographs have the certain kind of "energy" which do not just show the surface of a face. ... Surprisingly, the famous is not an important factor here, especially for those who appreciate quality photographs. ...«
THE SUN - KUALA LUMPUR
Nov 30, 1999
for the "faces" - exhibition
„...because the looks of the women announce highly visible pride and their exposed bodies are put in place like masterpieces of architecture. ...“
FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG
Dec. 22, 2001

sensitive view
»The sensual-erotic perspectives displayed in the fascinating shots by photographer and musician Johannes Barthelmes are not only evidence of an extraordinary talent for portraying female beauty, but also an expression of a contemporary and sensitive view of the role of women in eroticism.
In addition to aesthetics, self-confidence, female strength and a boldness for self-irony, as well as passion, abandonment and seduction are essential elements in this artist’s masterly works. And these qualities do not only inspire men but also inspire and arouse the enthusiasm of women.«
K. SCHÖNINGER
www.erozuna.de
sensuality
„...during the 20 years I have organized art shows all over the world at the most prestigious and well known museums and galleries, among them two for and with Barthelmes at the National Gallery at Kuala Lumpur/Malaysia and at the gallery „Space 2324“, I have rarely met an artist personality such as Barthelmes. His photographs, portraits and nudes are not only an aesthetic pleasure, but they are expressions of love and admiration for the people as well, which Barthelmes captures with his camera.
Art is always an abstract of reality and never the attempt to copy reality. Barthelmes portraits and nudes are no flat exposures. His portraits document no faces, they capture the character of that person. His nudes describe the beauty of the female body as an aesthetic expression.“
GERHARDT ENGELKING
(Director of the Goethe-Institute Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
Bangkok, Nov. 25, 2002
»...But these eight make interesting studies of the divergent, disparate art practices in the Neue Deutschland ... their potential going into the new millenium. ...«
NEW STRAIGHT TIMES, June 29, 1999
for the German Art of the 90's- exhibition
»...a master of nude photography!...«
TV BERLIN Jan. 16, 2002
»...a master of nude photography!...«
TV BERLIN Jan. 16, 2002