Thomas
Hoepker is one of the most acclaimed Magnum photographers. His pictures of
heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali, his shots from the USA in the 1960s, as well
as newer photos like the one he took in New York on September 11, 2001, have
become emblematic. Hoepker has been using Leica cameras ever since he
started working as a photo journalist for renowned magazines.
Hoepker has series of works Life behind the Berlin Wall and Germany after
unification that really connect to one another and sequentially tells the story
of one country devided in two parts for almost 30 years.
First image is black and white and it represents that happy childhood can happen even behind the
Berlin Wall. Environment is pretty dark and wall where one of the kids stands is wrapped
around with barbed wire. Composition
consists of contradictive elements and black and white setting adds more gloom
to it. Clearly, we can picture war and postwar time and lack of the comfort of
living in those conditions. Overcrowded lower part of photograph forces to
bring viewer’s eyes up to the main object of composition – soccer ball, that
plays important symbolic role.
Second image is taken during
parade. Composition is based on complimentary color scheme of green and red.
Unified movement of the composition, vertical lines of fence bars, human bodies
and trees stabilized with horizontal stretched posters on middleground and
background of composition. Middleground stays in focus.
Third image is portrait,
primary focus on the subject. Background stays out of focus. The way the person
positioned his hands holding glasses reflects shape of the ladder creating isosceles trapezoidal form. Composition is centered. Idea of
this photograph is conceptual presentation of youth, culture, style of living of East Berlin in 1980s.
Looking through the works of Thomas Hoepker, I compare environment of Berlin during Wall and the place where I am from. It brings my childhood's memory back and I can't get enough of it. Those works are based on impact of the separation of the half of the country. There is nothing humorous as a subject matter however, photographer presents even sad raw simple moments with a bit of satirical critique. Looking through those photos, makes me think about idea that it could be old prints in my grandmother's closet somethere. Unique and timeless.
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