The Bechers in Ohio, 1987

This short, silent film documents a typical day or two in the life of the Bechers while on a road trip through the American heartland. Filmed in 1987 by their son, Max, and edited by him in 2022 for the exhibition Bernd & Hilla Becher, the footage offers an enchanting glimpse of the artists’ working lives. It records them driving their ubiquitous Volkswagen bus, moving heavy equipment in and out of a motel room, eating a quick lunch, taking a nap, positioning the camera to photograph a grain elevator, and even manipulating certain aspects of the physical environment to suit their needs.