Kohlesilos, 1969 – 1989

About the Work

"We had to record these objects in order to preserve them, because they would ultimately disappear," commented Bernd Becher on the subjects that he and his wife, Hilla, photographed for posterity. Having grown up with industry, the artists were attracted above all by industrial buildings. In this case, nine black-and-white photographs are arranged to form a square and all follow an identical formal concept: they are photographed centrally from a slightly raised standpoint and under continuous lighting conditions. The uninhabited buildings stand at an undefined location, objectively and dispassionately. The perception of the formal structure of the buildings is thus strengthened, and their original purpose recedes into the background.