Boris Becker : Photographien / Photographs 1984–2009

Cologne-based artist Boris Becker is considered one of the most important purveyors of the German photography scene. A second generation student of the renowned Bernd and Hilla Becher, he takes his camera along on the search for pictures, which focus on abstract structures and colour accents, instead of the usual key allures, such as historical heritage sites in the city and in nature.

Since the mid-80s, he has been discovering a new range of thematic aspect in his work. His series of bunker photographs is, at 700 images, his most comprehensive group, in which he has documented bunker complexes from the WWII in an encyclopaedic manner.

Later on, photographs of apartment buildings and other architectural constructions followed. Besides these, there had always been the odd landscape picture. Amongst his most recent works is the ‘Artefact’ series, featuring pictures of individual or accumulated objects, as well as ‘Fakes’, comprised of images which document items, that have been ‘faked’ for the purpose of smuggling drugs for example.

The fact that Marcel Duchamp and his Readymades are the inspiration for some of his works is especially evident in his ‘Fakes’ series. Although there are only a limited number of everyday items that Boris Becker uses as motifs, their profane origins cannot be denied. Mostly, the objects have been confiscated by customs due to their status as contraband or evidence in cases of export criminality. Viewed without prior knowledge, they provoke curiosity and exemplify, to what extent our visual impression relies on our experiences, our knowledge and are thus culturally limited. Here, reality plays its two-faced charade all the more.

To Boris Becker, travelling and being on the road are means of gathering experiences and that are met in pictures – independently, be it in Germany, in the rest of Europe or further away from home. Yet, his works do not solely rely on travelling. Indeed, the true journey begins in the head, as Boris Becker puts it in his own words. “Art goes through the head”

The Photographischen Sammlung/SK Stiftung Kultur Cologne's exhibition has been devised in collaboration with the National Gallery at the Northern Austrian National Museum, Linz. After the presentation in Cologne, the retrospective will be shown in the National Gallery in Linz, Austria from Spring 2010.

Boris Becker. Photographien 1984–2009
until 28 February 2010
open daily except Wednesday, 2pm - 7pm
Entrance: 4,50 Euro (Concession 2 Euro), Free on Mondays

Boris Becker. Photographien/ Photographs 1984-2009
The exhibition is accompanyied by a catalogue: Boris Becker. Photographien / Photographs 1984–2009, Publ. The Photographische Sammlung/SK Stiftung Kultur and the National Gallery in the North Austrian National Museum. Text by Siegfried Gohr, Martin Hochleitner and conversation between Boris Becker, Gabriele Conrath-Scholl and Barbara Hofmann-Johnson, approx. 272 pages with approx 213 coloured images. Format 26x30cm, bound. German/English, Hardcover.

EUR 68,00 [D] / 109,00 sFr.
ISBN 978-3-8321-9235-8