Eröffnung: „Verschwinden (ARCHIV)“ – Fotografien von Laurenz Berges

Disappearance (ARCHIVE)
Photographs by Laurenz Berges
July 11 – August 2, 2026

Opening: Friday, July 10, 2026
6:00 p.m.
Free admission

The Düsseldorf School of Photography remains one of the most influential artistic movements in photography to this day. Its representative, Laurenz Berges, was one of the last master students taught by Bernd Becher at the Academy of Fine Arts. The asphalt Festival 2026 is making its debut at KIT – Kunst im Tunnel, where it will present the internationally renowned photographic artist’s first solo exhibition in Düsseldorf, featuring works from the past 25 years as well as current pieces that have not yet been shown. Laurenz Berges documents places that have been abandoned. In doing so, he uses only natural light and consistently avoids staging. His images are silent testimonies to social and political upheavals, such as the structural change in North Rhine-Westphalia. Once-vibrant cities and towns are losing part of their population; private homes are being abandoned without a new generation moving in to take their place. People are almost never seen in Laurenz Berges’ photographs, yet he uncovers the traces they left behind over the years before their disappearance. Within the unique architecture of the KIT, a visual archive unfolds, making visible the quiet echoes of lives lived.

During the exhibition, the asphalt Festival will hostconcerts at the KIT on four evenings.
On these exhibition days, reduced opening hours apply from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.:

Friday, July 17, 2026
shy and wild is love
Arditti Quartet, Christina Daletska & Consuelo Giulianelli, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, July 24, 2026
Perseverantia
Vadim Neselovskyi & Ysaÿe String Trio, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 25, 2026
Juliette Magnevasoa, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, July 31, 2026
PULSE & Tilo Weber, 7:30 p.m.