Europe is the home of some of the world’s most renowned public transport systems, from the margopolitain from Paris to the Berlin U-Bahn to Stockholm Metro. The latter is also the home of a remarkable series of underground public art displaysAlso, the “world exhibition in the world” in more than 68 miles long. Artists have played an important role since 1957 in the design of the stations of the city, creating compelling, multiensoric experiences that go much further than transferring passengers from point A to point B.
For Thibault DruulsThe architecture of underground train stations is central to the experience and aesthetics of travel, beyond the essential functionality of getting places. Traveling from Hamburg to Stockholm via Berlin, Munich and Brussels, he records the interior of iconic locations for a series called SymmetricalTiming the shots to coincide with passing trains that give each scene energy at high speed.
“European subways offer a rich visual diversity,” says Druut, continued:
Each city approaches underground architecture differently and mixes brutalism, futurism, minimalism or sometimes unexpected touch of decorations. What attracted me was the symmetry that was sometimes found in these spaces – not only in their layout but also in the repetition of patterns, the mirroring of platforms and the precision of design. They are places built for efficiency, but they have an unintended aesthetics that can be quite powerful when they are carefully observed.
For many, a metro trip is a daily everyday activity – not yet good but not remarkable. Druuter wants to emphasize the unique characteristics of these everyday spaces, exaggerate the perspective, capture movement, emphasize sources of artificial lighting and emphasize a variety of styles.
It can take a while to find the right moment and the right shot; It is essential that perfectly align that location, position and timing. DRUUTT does not consider his working documentary in a traditional sense, but more an interpretative approach aimed at finding aesthetic harmony in unexpected places.
More generally, the practice of Druuls emphasizes countless elements of global architecture, which he describes as ‘a form of silent stories’. He adds: “It speaks of intention, history, culture and function – but is often overlooked in our daily haste. When I photograph it, I try to freeze that moment on which the built environment reveals something about human rhythm, urban choreography or our feeling of space.”
DRUUTT is planning to continue the series with visits to three more cities this year. Find more about the artist websitewhere you can buy prints and follow updates Instagram.
