Bernd & Hilla Becher
September 3–October 4, 2014
London

Over the past five decades, as both teachers and artists, Bernd and Hilla Becher have become among the most influential figures in contemporary photography. Featuring five typologies of industrial structures, as well as a number of single, large-scale photographs, the exhibition at Sprüth Magers is their first solo show in London since the Camden Arts Centre in 1998 and the largest presentation of their work since ‘Cruel and Tender’, at Tate Modern, in 2003.

Bernd and Hilla Becher met in 1959 and first exhibited together in 1963. The typologies for which they are now well known grew out of their expansive, impartial approach when they first started taking photographs of commonplace industrial buildings in post-War Germany and across Western Europe. After collating thousands of pictures of individual structures, they noticed that the various edifices – of cooling towers, gas tanks and coalbunkers, for instance – shared many distinctive formal qualities. Systematically photographing each structure from both a frontal and a three-quarter perspective, they examined them the way a biologist might look at a specimen collected during fieldwork, comparing and contrasting to organise them into groups, or species. Presented in grids, the typologies reveal the many forms that the buildings share, while at the same time each picture within the grid describes the unique details of each particular structure. The rigour and clarity of the Bechers’ methodology has influenced a generation of photographers and conceptual artists.

 

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Five works fill the main gallery, four organised in grids of nine framed black-and-white photographs and one in fifteen. The nine photographs of Industrial Facades, 1970-1998, depict the broad, almost featureless fronts of various storage facilities, and the landscape orientation of the grid reflects the squat orientation of the buildings. Cooling Towers, 1967-1984, on the other hand, has the rising movement of the towers, and the overall grid has an almost Gothic sense of uplift despite the austere, utilitarian structures. A selection of individual, larger-scale photographs of industrial structures occupies the smaller gallery. These photographs tend to depict structures with strong characters, a consequence of an unusual history or function. Tom Pudding Hoist, Goole, GB, 1997, for example, depicts a vernacular structure used for transferring coal along the River Ouse in Goole, Yorkshire. The Bechers’ typologies and photographs grant anonymous forms a sculptural presence, showing how mundane buildings express important cultural forces.

 

Installation Views
Bernd & Hilla Becher – Bernd & Hilla Becher – London
Bernd & Hilla Becher
Installation view, Sprüth Magers, London, September 3–October 4, 2014

Bernd & Hilla Becher
Installation view, Sprüth Magers, London, September 3–October 4, 2014

Bernd & Hilla Becher – Bernd & Hilla Becher – London
Bernd & Hilla Becher
Installation view, Sprüth Magers, London, September 3–October 4, 2014

Bernd & Hilla Becher
Installation view, Sprüth Magers, London, September 3–October 4, 2014

Bernd & Hilla Becher – Bernd & Hilla Becher – London
Bernd & Hilla Becher
Installation view, Sprüth Magers, London, September 3–October 4, 2014

Bernd & Hilla Becher
Installation view, Sprüth Magers, London, September 3–October 4, 2014

Bernd & Hilla Becher – Bernd & Hilla Becher – London
Bernd & Hilla Becher
Installation view, Sprüth Magers, London, September 3–October 4, 2014

Bernd & Hilla Becher
Installation view, Sprüth Magers, London, September 3–October 4, 2014

Bernd & Hilla Becher – Bernd & Hilla Becher – London
Bernd & Hilla Becher
Installation view, Sprüth Magers, London, September 3–October 4, 2014

Bernd & Hilla Becher
Installation view, Sprüth Magers, London, September 3–October 4, 2014

Bernd & Hilla Becher – Bernd & Hilla Becher – London
Bernd & Hilla Becher
Installation view, Sprüth Magers, London, September 3–October 4, 2014

Bernd & Hilla Becher
Installation view, Sprüth Magers, London, September 3–October 4, 2014

Details
Bernd & Hilla Becher – Bernd & Hilla Becher – London

Bernd & Hilla Becher
Installation view, Sprüth Magers, London, September 3–October 4, 2014

Bernd & Hilla Becher – Bernd & Hilla Becher – London

Bernd & Hilla Becher
Installation view, Sprüth Magers, London, September 3–October 4, 2014

Bernd & Hilla Becher – Bernd & Hilla Becher – London

Bernd & Hilla Becher
Installation view, Sprüth Magers, London, September 3–October 4, 2014

Bernd & Hilla Becher – Bernd & Hilla Becher – London

Bernd & Hilla Becher
Installation view, Sprüth Magers, London, September 3–October 4, 2014

Bernd & Hilla Becher – Bernd & Hilla Becher – London

Bernd & Hilla Becher
Installation view, Sprüth Magers, London, September 3–October 4, 2014

Bernd & Hilla Becher – Bernd & Hilla Becher – London

Bernd & Hilla Becher
Installation view, Sprüth Magers, London, September 3–October 4, 2014

Details
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1 of 6
Exhibited Works
Bernd & Hilla Becher – Bernd & Hilla Becher – London
Bernd & Hilla Becher
Tom Pudding Hoist, Goole, GB, 1997

Bernd & Hilla Becher
Tom Pudding Hoist, Goole, GB, 1997
Silver-gelatin print
60 × 50 cm
23 5/8 × 19 3/4 inches

Bernd & Hilla Becher – Bernd & Hilla Becher – London
Bernd & Hilla Becher
Tom Pudding Hoist, Goole, GB, 1997

Bernd & Hilla Becher
Tom Pudding Hoist, Goole, GB, 1997
Silver-gelatin print
60 × 50 cm
23 5/8 × 19 3/4 inches

Bernd & Hilla Becher – Bernd & Hilla Becher – London
Bernd & Hilla Becher
Detail, Petrochemical Plant, Wesseling, GER, 1983

Bernd & Hilla Becher
Detail, Petrochemical Plant, Wesseling, GER, 1983
Silver-gelatin print
60 × 50 cm
23 5/8 × 19 3/4 inches

Bernd & Hilla Becher – Bernd & Hilla Becher – London
Bernd & Hilla Becher
Detail, Duisburg-Bruckhausen, GER, 1995

Bernd & Hilla Becher
Detail, Duisburg-Bruckhausen, GER, 1995
Silver-gelatin print
60 × 50 cm
23 5/8 × 19 3/4 inches

Bernd & Hilla Becher – Bernd & Hilla Becher – London
Bernd & Hilla Becher
Cooling Towers, 1967-1991

Bernd & Hilla Becher
Cooling Towers, 1967-1991
9 silver-gelatin prints
40 × 30 cm
15 3/4 × 11 7/8 inches

Bernd & Hilla Becher – Bernd & Hilla Becher – London
Bernd & Hilla Becher
Water Towers, 1969-1993

Bernd & Hilla Becher
Water Towers, 1969-1993
9 silver-gelatin prints
40 × 30 cm
15 3/4 × 11 7/8 inches

Bernd & Hilla Becher – Bernd & Hilla Becher – London
Bernd & Hilla Becher
Lime Kiln, Kaltes Tal, GER, 1997

Bernd & Hilla Becher
Lime Kiln, Kaltes Tal, GER, 1997
Silver-gelatin print
60 × 50 cm
23 5/8 × 19 3/4 inches

Bernd & Hilla Becher – Bernd & Hilla Becher – London
Bernd & Hilla Becher
Lime Kiln, Haanstätten, GER, 1992

Bernd & Hilla Becher
Lime Kiln, Haanstätten, GER, 1992
Silver-gelatin print
60 × 50 cm
23 5/8 × 19 3/4 inches

Bernd & Hilla Becher – Bernd & Hilla Becher – London
Bernd & Hilla Becher
Mine Head, Zeche Rossenray, Kamp-Lintford, GER, 1979

Bernd & Hilla Becher
Mine Head, Zeche Rossenray, Kamp-Lintford, GER, 1979
Silver-gelatin print
60 × 50 cm
23 5/8 × 19 3/4 inches

Bernd & Hilla Becher – Bernd & Hilla Becher – London
Bernd & Hilla Becher
Mine Head, Siege De Folschwiller, F, 1987

Bernd & Hilla Becher
Mine Head, Siege De Folschwiller, F, 1987
Silver-gelatin print
60 × 50 cm
23 5/8 × 19 3/4 inches

Bernd & Hilla Becher – Bernd & Hilla Becher – London
Bernd & Hilla Becher
Industrial Facades, 1970-1998

Bernd & Hilla Becher
Industrial Facades, 1970-1998
9 silver-gelatin prints
30 × 40 cm
11 7/8 × 15 3/4 inches

Bernd & Hilla Becher – Bernd & Hilla Becher – London
Bernd & Hilla Becher
Gas Tanks, 1973-2009

Bernd & Hilla Becher
Gas Tanks, 1973-2009
9 silver-gelatin prints
30 × 40 cm
11 7/8 × 15 3/4 inches

Bernd & Hilla Becher – Bernd & Hilla Becher – London
Bernd & Hilla Becher
Blast Furnace, Boel, La Louvière, B, 1985

Bernd & Hilla Becher
Blast Furnace, Boel, La Louvière, B, 1985
Silver-gelatin print
60 × 50 cm
23 5/8 × 19 3/4 inches

Bernd & Hilla Becher – Bernd & Hilla Becher – London
Bernd & Hilla Becher
Blast Furnace, Rombas, Lorraine, F, 1984

Bernd & Hilla Becher
Blast Furnace, Rombas, Lorraine, F, 1984
Silver-gelatin print
60 × 50 cm
23 5/8 × 19 3/4 inches

Bernd & Hilla Becher – Bernd & Hilla Becher – London
Bernd & Hilla Becher
Cooling Tower, Lübeck-Herrenwyk, GER, 1983

Bernd & Hilla Becher
Cooling Tower, Lübeck-Herrenwyk, GER, 1983
Silver-gelatin print
60 × 50 cm
23 5/8 × 19 3/4 inches

Bernd & Hilla Becher – Bernd & Hilla Becher – London
Bernd & Hilla Becher
Cooling Tower, Geleen, Limburg, NL, 1968

Bernd & Hilla Becher
Cooling Tower, Geleen, Limburg, NL, 1968
Silver-gelatin print
60 × 50 cm
23 5/8 × 19 3/4 inches

Bernd & Hilla Becher – Bernd & Hilla Becher – London
Bernd & Hilla Becher
Coal Bunkers, 1966-1999

Bernd & Hilla Becher
Coal Bunkers, 1966-1999
15 silver-gelatin prints
40 × 30 cm
15 3/4 × 11 7/8 inches

Bernd & Hilla Becher – Bernd & Hilla Becher – London
Bernd & Hilla Becher
Quenching Tower, Zeche Hugo, Gelsenkirchen, GER, 1978

Bernd & Hilla Becher
Quenching Tower, Zeche Hugo, Gelsenkirchen, GER, 1978
Silver-gelatin print
60 × 50 cm
23 5/8 × 19 3/4 inches

Details
Bernd & Hilla Becher – Bernd & Hilla Becher – London

Bernd & Hilla Becher
Tom Pudding Hoist, Goole, GB, 1997
Silver-gelatin print
60 × 50 cm
23 5/8 × 19 3/4 inches

Bernd & Hilla Becher – Bernd & Hilla Becher – London

Bernd & Hilla Becher
Tom Pudding Hoist, Goole, GB, 1997
Silver-gelatin print
60 × 50 cm
23 5/8 × 19 3/4 inches

Bernd & Hilla Becher – Bernd & Hilla Becher – London

Bernd & Hilla Becher
Detail, Petrochemical Plant, Wesseling, GER, 1983
Silver-gelatin print
60 × 50 cm
23 5/8 × 19 3/4 inches

Bernd & Hilla Becher – Bernd & Hilla Becher – London

Bernd & Hilla Becher
Detail, Duisburg-Bruckhausen, GER, 1995
Silver-gelatin print
60 × 50 cm
23 5/8 × 19 3/4 inches

Bernd & Hilla Becher – Bernd & Hilla Becher – London

Bernd & Hilla Becher
Cooling Towers, 1967-1991
9 silver-gelatin prints
40 × 30 cm
15 3/4 × 11 7/8 inches

Bernd & Hilla Becher – Bernd & Hilla Becher – London

Bernd & Hilla Becher
Water Towers, 1969-1993
9 silver-gelatin prints
40 × 30 cm
15 3/4 × 11 7/8 inches

Bernd & Hilla Becher – Bernd & Hilla Becher – London

Bernd & Hilla Becher
Lime Kiln, Kaltes Tal, GER, 1997
Silver-gelatin print
60 × 50 cm
23 5/8 × 19 3/4 inches

Bernd & Hilla Becher – Bernd & Hilla Becher – London

Bernd & Hilla Becher
Lime Kiln, Haanstätten, GER, 1992
Silver-gelatin print
60 × 50 cm
23 5/8 × 19 3/4 inches

Bernd & Hilla Becher – Bernd & Hilla Becher – London

Bernd & Hilla Becher
Mine Head, Zeche Rossenray, Kamp-Lintford, GER, 1979
Silver-gelatin print
60 × 50 cm
23 5/8 × 19 3/4 inches

Bernd & Hilla Becher – Bernd & Hilla Becher – London

Bernd & Hilla Becher
Mine Head, Siege De Folschwiller, F, 1987
Silver-gelatin print
60 × 50 cm
23 5/8 × 19 3/4 inches

Bernd & Hilla Becher – Bernd & Hilla Becher – London

Bernd & Hilla Becher
Industrial Facades, 1970-1998
9 silver-gelatin prints
30 × 40 cm
11 7/8 × 15 3/4 inches

Bernd & Hilla Becher – Bernd & Hilla Becher – London

Bernd & Hilla Becher
Gas Tanks, 1973-2009
9 silver-gelatin prints
30 × 40 cm
11 7/8 × 15 3/4 inches

Bernd & Hilla Becher – Bernd & Hilla Becher – London

Bernd & Hilla Becher
Blast Furnace, Boel, La Louvière, B, 1985
Silver-gelatin print
60 × 50 cm
23 5/8 × 19 3/4 inches

Bernd & Hilla Becher – Bernd & Hilla Becher – London

Bernd & Hilla Becher
Blast Furnace, Rombas, Lorraine, F, 1984
Silver-gelatin print
60 × 50 cm
23 5/8 × 19 3/4 inches

Bernd & Hilla Becher – Bernd & Hilla Becher – London

Bernd & Hilla Becher
Cooling Tower, Lübeck-Herrenwyk, GER, 1983
Silver-gelatin print
60 × 50 cm
23 5/8 × 19 3/4 inches

Bernd & Hilla Becher – Bernd & Hilla Becher – London

Bernd & Hilla Becher
Cooling Tower, Geleen, Limburg, NL, 1968
Silver-gelatin print
60 × 50 cm
23 5/8 × 19 3/4 inches

Bernd & Hilla Becher – Bernd & Hilla Becher – London

Bernd & Hilla Becher
Coal Bunkers, 1966-1999
15 silver-gelatin prints
40 × 30 cm
15 3/4 × 11 7/8 inches

Bernd & Hilla Becher – Bernd & Hilla Becher – London

Bernd & Hilla Becher
Quenching Tower, Zeche Hugo, Gelsenkirchen, GER, 1978
Silver-gelatin print
60 × 50 cm
23 5/8 × 19 3/4 inches

Details
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Selected Press

Lost world: Bernd and Hilla Becher legendary industrial photographs 
The Guardian Online, review by Sean O’Hagan,  September 30, 2014

Review: Bernd and Hilla Becher at Sprüth Magers
Apollo, article by Will Martin, September 19, 2014 

Photographers Bernd and Hilla Becher’s iconic industrial scenes go on show at Sprüth Magers London 
Wallpaper, review by Ellie Stathaki, September 3, 2014

Review of Bernd & Hilla Becher, Sprüth Magers London 
Aesthetica Blog, review by Daniel Barnes, September 16,2013