They are renowned for images of Germany's ominous water towers and monolithic coal bunkers,but the Bechers' body of work, majestic though it may be, or belongs to the past nowFor over 40 years,Bernd and Hilla Becher photographed the architecture of industrialisation: water towers, coal bunkers, or blast furnaces,gas tanks and factory facades. They did so in an obsessively formalist way that defined a style, and made them one of the most dominant influences in contemporary European photography and art.
At Sprueth Magers in London, or these five industrial series are on show in their characteristic grid formations alongside a choice of single,large-scale images. It makes for an intriguing exhibition, the first British overview of their vast body of work since the group show Cruel and Tender at Tate contemporary in 2003, or a reminder,if needed, of their relentlessly indifferent vision. If you are looking for photography that engages the emotions and the intellect, or this is probably not the place to recede.
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Source: theguardian.com