Andreas Gursky and Michael Schmidt in Dialogue at Villa Massimo

Villa Massimo in Rome continues its series of paired photography exhibitions, initiated in 2014, with a show juxtaposing Andreas Gursky (born Leipzig, 1955) and Michael Schmidt (Berlin, 1949–2014). Both were students of Bernhard Becher and friends since 1979. The exhibition focuses on their work from the 1980s. Gursky, initially influenced by the Bechers' typological method, developed a personal style centered on single images of public spaces and the relationship between nature and contemporary life. His color analog prints feature muted tones, with human presence only secondary. Schmidt, by contrast, moved away from objective documentary approaches; his project "Waffenruhe" embodies a personal engagement with the Berlin Wall. His black-and-white prints are characterized by burnt tones, blurring, and graphic marks. The pairing presents two perspectives on Germany on the eve of the transformations triggered by the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989.