Wilhelm Philipp

'Nothing Without You'

A photographic exploration detailing the bonds & relationships of life & death.

Exhibition held at Brick & Mortar Supply Store.
Photographed by Wilhelm Philipp & curated by Matthew Peter Karak.

Dedicated to Kurt Philipp.

Self published, edition of 80, 40 pages, 25.5cm x 20cm.

SOLD OUT. 

My grandmother Margret, on my grandfather's first birthday no longer with us. Sitting on the edge of their bed, she holds his groom teddy bear, a gift received for their 50th wedding anniversary. My grandfather would buy a different stuffed toy for my grandmother every birthday / Christmas. Eventually collecting so many stuffed animals to fill the entire bed. Every night they would take them all off the bed, wake in the morning and put them back in their specific places. A routine she continues to this day.

Lucy , upstairs in her home of the last 20+ years. This is the first time Lucy has been up the second floor of her home in over a year due to her age & living alone, she didn't want to risk sustaining a possible injury. The sun setting captures the beauty of the beginning of the end. Lucy has since sold her cherished home & moved out.

Lucy standing with her ballet collection from her youth.

My mother (Lisa) & sisters (Olivia & Caitlin) sitting under framed drawings they did when they were younger. The love of these 3 women has helped me overcome any adversity I've faced.

Father Joseph Amal, in St Paschal Chapel in Box Hill, prior to a Sunday afternoon service. Father Amal wears his special chasuble, a gift received for his completion of a study in Rome. A man full of joy & blessing.

Luba & George, husband & wife Russian ballet duo who have been married for over 50 years. The pair still perform to this day.

Marlee & his superhero brother Wendal, photographed in the backyard of their family home, a lot of love between these two siblings.

Twin brothers Jordan & Radel.

My father Brett, standing in his office in Balwyn. He has worked in the real estate business for over 25 years, pretty much his whole adult life. He recently opened his own business, 3 years later through the ups & downs, the stress of the job hasn't slowed.

Domenico & Pierina celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary.

Natalie & Matthew, high school sweet hearts.

Marcus at Dawson Avenue his place of peace. The poem below was written there.

"Transcendental Meditation, Mental Void Of Procrastination, Salt Saturated Disappearance Of Morning Blues, Peace Found With No Clues, Sunscreen Rubbed Into Nose, Sand Between Toes, Disappearance Of Egos, Less Is More When It Comes To Clothes, Sunset Seems A Grasp Of Euphoria, A Feeling I Can Only Leave To My Third Cornea"

John, local Mulgrave lawn bowls celebrity.

Jasper, bruised eye from an airborne laundry basket.

Robert, holding a cow bovine, used in one of his art pieces. Giving new life to a deceased object.

John, in his beloved shed full of random items purchased over the years at local garage sales.

Susan, a funeral celebrant, photographed after a service for a young man who overdosed. Friends & family attending the service were told to wear bright colours to celebrate his life. Over 600 attended the service.

Kevin, picked up smoking after a patient in the psychiatrist hospital taught him how to take his first drag. Due to a developed tolerance for his tranquillisers Kevin picked up smoking to help alleviate anxieties. Kevin undergoes Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for his depression. He is a very kind & warm man who has a lot of love for his nephew.

James, wearing a camo wetsuit & holding his spear gun used for fishing.

Grantley Woods, an Iraq war veteran.

Erin, standing on Bourke Street last September. I've know Erin since our high school days back at Koonung. We were in the same class from year 7-8. On January 20, 2017 - Erin was struck down by a car on Bourke Street, leaving her in a coma for 25 days. Defying all the odds, she made a miraculous recovery. In this photo she stands metres from the incident that was so close to taking her life away.

My great great grandmother Amalie's tombstone in Melbourne Cemetery. She survived Auschwitz during the Nazi regime & made her way to Melbourne where she passed in 1953.