Laurenz Berges - The Becher House in Mudersbach

In the series “The Becher House in Mudersbach,” Laurenz Berges (b. 1966) explores the history of a half-timbered house in the Siegerland region that has been home to over three generations and which has become something of a monument. Originally the house of the grandparents of Bernd Becher (1931–2007), it was afterward inhabited by his two aunts. Becher loved the house from childhood on and later cherished it with his own family as an occasional domicile. A number of biographies are intertwined within these walls, as reflected in the furnishings and in the numerous items left behind. At many moments, it seems as if time were standing still.

In the photographs by Laurenz Berges, a master student of Bernd Becher at the Düsseldorf Art Academy, the aspect of time comes into play in a heightened form. The subdued lighting that characterizes his compositions contributes to a haunting atmospheric density.