Typology

During the January residency, many people suggested I look at the work of the influential German artists and teachers Bernd and Hilla Becher because I have been photographing several Catholic churches and studying the archive as artform.

The Bechers documented industrial buildings and structures beginning in the late 1950s and usually presented their silver prints of specific types of structures, such as the Water Towers below, in a grid.  They photographed these structures from the same point of view, under the same lighting and weather conditions to produce images that emphasize the differences and similarities.  Their work highlighted the need for preservation.

1978-1985
Black and white photograph, gelatin-silver print
40 x 30 cm

Below are three examples of sacristy sinks in the top row and three examples of confessionals in the bottom row.  I don't think I'll exhibit my work like this but it was interesting to see that I had been photographing specific aspects of each church.

© 2011

And for fun, I can't help but think that these posters are part of the Becher legacy...