Hidden amongst pastoral European scenery are the scars of war — craters left by explosives, dotting the sites of battles that took place 70 years ago. German photographer Henning Rogge has set out to find these old wounds, using aerial photos and assortment of other techniques. Some of the craters have become so embedded in their surroundings they’re almost unnoticeable. Many are now surreal round ponds, like portals into another world. Rogge’s representative described the dual intent of his work:
Rogge’s photographs of these places point to this disconnect—the way violent histories can later appear as placid sites of remembrance. In their pairing of current serenity with past rupture, he asks the viewer to consider the healing effect of time: If this scarred landscape has recovered from the war’s violence, can a country, or a person, heal in the same way?
The photographs will be exhibited at RH Contemporary Art starting next week. “The Beautiful Changes,” Jun 17 – Sep 13, RH Contemporary Art, Manhattan (Photos Courtesy Henning Rogge)
