Insights

The “INSIGHTS” section was officially established by PHOTOFAIRS Shanghai in 2016, focusing on specific themes or pivotal moments in the history of photography. Since Bernd Becher was appointed professor at the Kunstakademie Düsseldorf in 1976, Düsseldorf gradually became a major hub for photographic art worldwide. The Bechers treated photography as an autonomous artistic practice, and their teaching framework shifted photography from documentary and journalistic traditions toward a more conceptual form of expression, profoundly influencing contemporary photographic development. This year, the fair marks the fiftieth anniversary of the Düsseldorf School of Photography, with guest curator Valeria Liebermann presenting the exhibition art <=> photography, exploring the school’s legacy and transformation in a contemporary context.

The exhibition begins with the works of Bernd and Hilla Becher and showcases the creations of three pioneering artists of the school—Andreas Gursky, Candida Höfer, and Thomas Ruff—who, despite often being labeled “Becher students,” each developed distinct and diverse bodies of work. The show also features four emerging artists from the student cohorts of Gursky (professor at Düsseldorf from 2010–2018) and Ruff (professor from 2000–2006): Sebastian Riemer, Juergen Staack, Hedda Roman, and Alex Grein. These artists are exploring new directions in photographic media and image-making, challenging conventional modes of perception.

Simultaneously, works by Chinese artists Yang Di, Shi Yangkun, Gao Yutao, and Liu Shiyuan are included, highlighting how the Düsseldorf School resonates and is reinterpreted within the Chinese context. For the curator, the Düsseldorf School might be more aptly described as a “school of seeing,” sparking debates around authenticity, modes of representation, and aesthetic standards in art, while offering viewers a reflective lens on reality.