Werner Hahn

Biography

1944
Born in Karlsbad

1961-66
Studied Fine Art, Graphic Design and Photography in Germany

1966
Embarked on a four-year quest to Asia;
Painting in Afghanistan, Pakistan and India

1966/67
Painting in Nepal. Two-man expedition to Mt Everest, South Face

1967
Painting in Thailand; Exhibition at Phyathai Gallery, Bangkok

1967/68
Several exhibitions in conjunction with the Goethe Institut

1968
Painting in Sumatra, Nias, Java and Malaysia;
Shows in Jakarta and Singapore

1968/69
Lived and painted in Ubud, Bali;
Exhibitions in Bali and Kuala Lumpur

1969
Photographer of the award-winning Apa Photoguide „Guide to Bali“

1970
as of 1970 Resident in Hong Kong;
One-man exhibitions at City Hall Gallery, Hong Kong;
Photo assignment in Angkor, Cambodia

1970-74
Lecturer of Fine Art at the University of Hong Kong

1971
Marriage with Hong Kong Fashion Model Linda Chang

1971
Assignment by Lufthansa Airlines to photograph the capitols of Europe

1972
One-man show, Galeria Taverna, Hong Kong

1971/72
Award-winning photo-essay on Moskow
Photographer of the book ‘Riri, a Balinese Phantasie’

1971-74
Art director, Interasia Publications Ltd

1974-76
Photographer of ‘Aberdeen, Catching the Last Rays’, a photobook about Hong Kong’s boat people

1975
Photo assignments in Borneo and Sulawesi

1976-97
Founder und Managing Director, Grapho Ltd, a graphic design, photography and publishing company (1976-1997)
Creative Director, Hill and Knowlton Asia Ltd (1976-1993)
Creative Director, Travel Publishing Asia Ltd (1983-1994)

Continued to live and work in Hong Kong and the Asia/Pacific region.
Winner of many local and international awards for art direction and photography:

– Trophy Winner, Best Design, BAIE London 1979, 1982, 1984, 1989
– HKDA Winner of many Merits and Gold Awards for art direction
and photography
– IABC Gold Quill Award, 1985
– Clio Award, USA, 1988
– PATA Gold Award, Best Photo Essay 1989 and 1992

1978
Published ’Gedichte und Zeichnungen einer Asienreise 1966-1970’, a book of drawings and poems created over a 4-year period of travelling throughout Asia

1979
Birth of daughter Natalie

1979/80
Travel and photo-assignments in Ladakh, Kashmir, Nepal and India

1982-86
Further excursions in Burma, Mongolia, China und Japan;
Photographer and Author of ‚Asian Portfolio‘ ( Vol. I & II )

1986-93
Studied Chinese Art and Chinese Brush-Painting

1987
First Tibet-Expedition; Mt Everest Northface and West Tibet

1989
First circumambulation of Mount Kailas

1990
Started the Mount Kailas series of scroll-paintings

1991-94
Publisher of ’Orient’, a large-format Travel Magazine of the Asian/Pacific region
Dalai Lama visit in Dharamsala (1991)
Photography in Bhutan, Burma, Cambodia and China

1995
One-man exhibition of scroll-paintings, Hong Kong Arts Centre

1995
Photographer of ‘Retrospective‘, a book covering 30 years of editorial photography in Asia

1995/96
Further studies in North India;
BodhGaya, Elephanta, Satrunjaya, Ellora und Ajanta

1996
One-man show at Plum Blossom Gallery, Hong Kong

1997
Return to Germany; residence and studio in Nürnberg

1998
Third journey to Tibet and Mount Kailas

2000
One-man exhibition, Cathedral of Bamberg

2001
One-man show, Sparkasse Rottweil

2002
One-man exhibition, Museum für Ostasiatische Kunst, Berlin

2002
One-man exhibition, Galerie der Bayrischen Landesbank, München

2008
Exhibition of Kailas-scroll paintings on occation of the visit of his Holiness the Dalai Lama, City-Hall Nürnberg

2014
Group-exhibition “Bergwelten” : Oskar Mulley, Alfons Walde, Werner Hahn; Galerie Schüller, München