DARMSTADT.- For over five decades, Candida Höfer has been photographing the world's grandest interiors, but not in the way you might expect. Her photographs of museums, libraries, and opera houses are famously devoid of people, yet they hum with an undeniable human presence. Now, the Hessisches Landesmuseum Darmstadt is offering a rare and expansive look into her remarkable career with "Candida Höfer. Photographs," an exhibition that not only showcases her iconic works but also unveils intriguing new directions.


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Höfer, born in 1944, is a true titan of German photography, having emerged from the esteemed Düsseldorf Art Academy where she studied under the legendary Bernd and Hilla Becher – mentors to a generation of photographic stars like Andreas Gursky and Thomas Ruff. But even early in her career, she knew that traditional studio shots wouldn't capture her imagination. Instead, she found her calling in the silent stories told by public spaces.

What makes a Candida Höfer photograph so captivating? It's her uncanny ability to turn seemingly empty rooms into profound portraits. These aren't just architectural snapshots; they are deep dives into the cultural heartbeat of a place. Whether it's the hushed grandeur of a library, the theatrical echo of an opera house, or the intricate details of a zoo enclosure, Höfer's precise compositions reveal the very essence of human interaction, memory, and knowledge, even in our absence. She's been doing this for years, and the fascination never wanes.

The Darmstadt exhibition, featuring 53 photographs, offers a sweeping overview of her journey. Visitors will be awestruck by her signature large-format prints of magnificent halls. But prepare for a delightful surprise: the show also introduces newer series, like "Light Bulbs (2021)" and "Trees (2021)," demonstrating Höfer's evolving artistic vision.

In the "Light Bulbs" series, Höfer's characteristic objective gaze is at its most striking. She photographs everyday light fixtures, often provisionally hung, from various angles. The stark, clean lines of her composition clash brilliantly with the messy reality of the temporary wiring, subtly poking fun at our relentless pursuit of perfection. It’s a quiet, witty commentary on how creativity often thrives outside rigid structures.

Her "Trees" series, also from 2021, turns her lens to nature, specifically how humans impose order on it. These photographs show meticulously arranged landscapes with strong horizontals and verticals, hinting at structured beauty. And yes, these tree-filled spaces are also conspicuously empty of people. Yet, like her interiors, they are teeming with signs of human life – a forgotten bicycle, a ping-pong table, empty benches. The absence of people paradoxically underscores their undeniable presence.

"Candida Höfer. Photographs" is a specially curated exhibition for the Hessisches Landesmuseum Darmstadt, thoughtfully placed next to the "Block Beuys" installation. It’s an invitation to slow down, look closely, and experience the profound beauty and subtle narratives within spaces often overlooked, confirming Höfer’s enduring status as a visionary artist. This exhibition is a testament to why she was deservedly awarded the prestigious Käthe Kollwitz Prize by the Akademie der Künste Berlin just this year.



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