Bebra Curiosa

A visit to the Bebra city archive provided the initial spark for the BEBRA CURIOSA project: Axel Beyer saw a model of the city's town hall in a glass case in subdued light. This special atmosphere of interior and miniature wonderland fascinated him. At home he then explored the model potential of the Bebra pictures he had taken over the years. He began combining interior and exterior views into new compositions.

A series grew with strange panoramas and claustrophobic rooms that highlight this place in a special way. The bizarre atmosphere of these image illusions contrasts with the special climate of this real place. The small town of Bebra is located in the middle of Germany and is known to most people as a railway hub. Gigantic tracks are a reminder of the great times. At the end of the 80s, Bebra increasingly lost its importance, also under the influence of reunification. At this time, the satirist Matthias Horx coined the term “Bebraism” in his essay “Endstation Bebra” and described the symbols of bourgeoisie.

The book is one of the three prize winners of the international Photobook Festival Kassel 2010