HG Esch: Photography Exhibition, AEDES Gallery, Berlin, DE
Throughout this exceptional photographic juxtaposition, presented by the internationally-renowned photographer and filmmaker HG Esch, the exploration of transformation takes shape, based on two reoccurring themes in his artistic work. The transformations of the former administration building of the light bulb manufacturer Osram in Munich, the first open-plan office building in Europe, designed by Walter Henn and the transformations of global metropolises, presented in large-format panorama views.
The Osram Administration Building
In this photo series, Esch illustrates the eventful history of the Osram building in Munich, erected by Walter Henn in 1965 and instantly regarded as an outstanding example of modernism. These documentaries reflect the approach to architectural photography through the work of two generations: in 1965 by the Wolfsburg-born photographer and painter Heinrich Heidersberger, known for capturing the achievements of post-war technology in black and white images. With his photographs, he made a significant contribution to the dissemination of the architecture of the Braunschweig School. HGEsch’s photo documentations began in 2010 and continued in 2015, at a time when 800 refugees were housed in small living container quarters within the office space. Photographs of the demolition of the landmarked building in 2018 form the conclusion of the work. Despite his extensive efforts, the architect Gunter Henn, son of the building’s creator, was unable to purchase and restore the headquarters for his own firm. With the chronology of their creation, the photographs by Heinrich Heidersberger and HGEsch simultaneously document the lifeline of a historical building and a piece of contemporary significance.
