Axel Hütte
Silent Spaces

Axel Hütte (born 1951 in Essen) is considered one of the most significant international photographers of our time, known for his seemingly painterly works. The exhibition focuses on his large-scale photographs of mountains, glaciers and water which the artist himself describes as imagined landscapes. As a former student of Bernd and Hilla Becher he is an important representative of the Düsseldorf School of Photography.

For his photographs, Axel Hütte travels to all continents. He waits patiently at carefully chosen locations before capturing an image with his plate camera. His unpopulated works lack any narratives. In some works, water surfaces, reflections, or fog transform into abstract structures that oscillate between sharpness and blur, inviting the viewer to meditative contemplation. This is also followed by four video works by Axel Hütte, which are being shown together for the first time. With their experimental design, electronic music and sound compositions, they open contemplative spaces.

The exhibition, planned in close collaboration with Axel Hütte, presents 36 works from 1997 to 2024. The architecture and design studio sauerbruch hutton has developed a color scheme for the exhibition at the Arp Museum.