DUSSELDORF.- Art enthusiasts and photography aficionados are invited to a profound visual journey as the Kunsthalle Düsseldorf today officially opens "Bernd and Hilla Becher Prize 2025," a dual exhibition honoring the esteemed Ursula Schulz-Dornburg and the vibrant emerging artist Farah Al Qasimi. On view through September 7, 2025, the show promises a deep dive into two distinct yet equally compelling photographic practices.

At the heart of the exhibition is veteran photographer Ursula Schulz-Dornburg, the main recipient of the Bernd and Hilla Becher Prize 2025. Born in 1938 and a Düsseldorf resident since 1969, Schulz-Dornburg’s decades-spanning work delves into the very "verticality of time" itself. With an anthropologist's keen eye, she unearths forgotten narratives within landscapes and decaying political systems across Armenia, Kazakhstan, Yemen, Syria, and beyond. Her powerful, often conceptual, photographs encourage viewers to ponder the ephemerality of human constructs and the enduring presence of nature. Having recently gained renewed international acclaim with exhibitions at the British Museum and Tate Modern, her inclusion marks a significant moment for the prize.

Meanwhile, the prize's emerging talent, Farah Al Qasimi, born in Abu Dhabi in 1991 and now based in New York, offers a vibrant, often bold, lens on contemporary life. Her striking photographs, films, and performances peel back layers of unspoken social norms, examining post-colonial structures of power, gender, and taste in the Arab Gulf states. Al Qasimi’s work, born from her unique perspective splitting time between Dubai and New York, challenges traditional notions of identity with a captivating and distinctly modern aesthetic.

The Bernd and Hilla Becher Prize, awarded biennially by the city of Düsseldorf, pays homage to the legendary artistic duo Bernd and Hilla Becher, who pioneered the first artistic photography class at a German art academy in Düsseldorf, cementing photography's place in the visual arts.

To celebrate these artistic achievements, the Kunsthalle Düsseldorf is spearheading the "Bernd and Hilla Becher Prize Week." Beyond the galleries, this special week will feature engaging talks and film screenings across participating institutions, including the Salon des Amateurs, Kunstsammlung NRW – K21, and the Kino Black Box at the Filmmuseum. In a generous gesture, admission to all events throughout the prize week is free, inviting a broad public to engage with these critical photographic voices.

Don't miss the opportunity to explore the profound works of Ursula Schulz-Dornburg and Farah Al Qasimi, whose lenses offer fresh perspectives on history, identity, and the intricate tapestry of our world. The exhibition is open now at Kunsthalle Düsseldorf.