Bernd and Hilla BecherThe Photographic Memory

Bernd and Hilla Becher are among the most important photo artists of the last 70 years. This exhibition of their work in Galleri Star was one of the first in Norway.

Bernd (1931–2007) and Hilla (1934–2015) Becher were the high priests of The New Objectivity movement in German photography. They were renowned for their series of black-and-white images of industrial architecture. They took the style to its extreme consequence, which brought them legendary status and their influence has more recently been identified as the Becher School.

The exhibition in Galleri Star was given the title The Photographic Memory partly because the couple’s works were shown alongside archive material from Vestfossen. This was images of the industrial complex that was Vestfos Cellulosefabrik, in operation from 1886 to 1970, including the building which today houses Vestfossen Kunstlaboratorium.

Participating artists

• Bernd Becher
• Hilla Becher