Hilla Becher was a German photographer and artist who, along with her husband Bernd Becher, revolutionized the field of photography by creating a systematic documentation of industrial architecture and vernacular buildings. She was born on September 2, 1934, in Potsdam, Germany, and passed away on October 10, 2015, in Düsseldorf, Germany. Becher's work was characterized by its stark, black and white aesthetic and its focus on the beauty and orderliness of industrial structures. She and her husband worked together for over forty years, creating a vast archive of photographs that documented the changing urban landscape of Germany and beyond. Becher's work was not just about documenting the built environment, but also about preserving it. She and her husband believed that the industrial structures they photographed were disappearing at an alarming rate, and that it was important to capture them before they were lost forever. Their photographs were not just artistic creations, but also historical documents that captured a moment in time and a way of life that was rapidly disappearing. Throughout her career, Becher held numerous solo and group exhibitions around the world, including at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Centre Pompidou in Paris, and the Tate Modern in London. Her work has influenced countless photographers and artists, and her legacy continues to inspire new generations of creators.
German photographer, industrial architecture, vernacular buildings, systematic documentation, black and white aesthetic
Hilla Becher (1934-2015) was a German artist famous for her photographic work. Her practice was mainly focused on industrial architecture and the documentation of vernacular buildings. She used black and white large-format photographs to document an ever-changing urban environment. Along with her husband, Bernd Becher, she presented her work in various forms with the goal of creating an encyclopedic archive. Throughout her career, she held multiple solo and group exhibitions internationally, including in the United States, Europe, and Australia. Becher’s notable works include The Coal Mines of the Ruhr and The Water Towers of the Ruhr.
Industrial architecture, photography, German artist.
— Mei Wang
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