A poolside cocktail party that has fallen silent, children pulling a red rubber boat through silvery waves and a woman lost in a phone call, Leif Trenkler's paintings capture magically detached moments, scarcely perceived in the blur of everyday life. Oscillating between realism and poetic reverie, each colourful scene offers a snapshot of the artist's extensive travels. Complete with an accompanying essay and interviews with the artist, this generously illustrated monograph focuses on the distinctive characteristics of Trenkler's art practice, including his refusal to use the camera as anything other than a tool to aid memory, his in-depth exploration of colour relationships and the central role that unfamiliar places play in his quest for visual freedom. One of the first representatives of the New Figuration movement in Germany, Trenkler's substantial body of work is finally rewarded with the recognition and close attention it deserves in this illuminating volume.

Martin Tschechne is a German journalist and writer. He was appointed editor-in-chief of the art magazine Art World in 2006.