Alongside Candida Höfer, Axel Hutte, Thomas Ruff and Thomas Struth, Tata Ronkholz (1940-1997) was one of photographer Bernd Becher's first students at the renowned Düsseldorf Art Academy. Bernd Becher and his wife Hilla, who documented industrial plants threatened with demolition or decay, are regarded as pioneers of conceptual art and contemporary photography.
The Rheinhafen Düsseldorf project, which Tata Ronkholz and Thomas Struth began in 1979, continues the concept of their academy teacher. In impressive exterior and interior shots, the two artists documented parts of Düsseldorf's industrial harbour that were threatened with demolition before it fell victim to the wrecking ball in 1981.
The work was under great time pressure right from the start. This was further increased after Thomas Struth withdrew from the project in 1980 and Tata Ronkholz continued the comprehensive photographic documentation of the interiors on her own. But her work was crowned with great success: her outstanding black and white photographs are today impressive testimonies to the 'lost' Düsseldorf Rhine harbour. In 1981, the works were exhibited for the first time in the Düsseldorf City Museum.
Grisebach is delighted to be able to exhibit the project with this show of around 40 works on the occasion of the Duesseldorf Photo Weekend.
Exhibition
4 February - 31 March 2017
Bilker Straße 4-6, 40213 Düsseldorf
Opening: Friday, 3 February 2017, 6-9pm
Opening times: Mon-Fri from 10am-6pm