Bebra Curiosa

A visitor to the municipal archives of Bebra as the booster detonation for the project Bebra Curiosa: In a glass case, Axel Beyer saw a model of the town hall bathed in soft light. He was fascinated by the atmosphere of an interior and miniature wonderland. Back at home, he explored the model potential of the Bebra pictures he took over the years. He began by combining interior and exterior views into new compositions. A series of quaint panoramas and claustrophobic rooms grew from there, emphasizing the place in a special way. The bizarre atmosphere of these illusions stands opposed to the particular climate of the place. The small town of Bebra is located in central Germany and is known to most people as a railroad hub. Gigantic track systems serve as reminders of the great times. At the end of the 1980s, partly due to the impact of the reunification, Bebra lost most of its significance. Around this time, the satirist Matthias Horx coined the term ‘Bebraism’ in his essay Bebra The End of the Line, and described in it the symbols of provincialism.

Text in English and German.