Wolfgang Tillmans's Photos Tell the Story of How the Tate Modern's Switch House Was Built
Images of the construction sites were distorted to produce a unique, abstract look.
According to the Tate Modern, its new gallery extension named the Switch House, will be “the most important cultural building to open in the UK for almost two decades.” The addition has been designed to allow museum goers to interact better with the art. There will be new sections for collections, as well as spaces where people can learn and discuss new media. For the design, the Tate Modern acquired the talents of Swiss architecture firm, Herzog and de Meuron, who are renowned for their use of complex shapes and materials. Some of the company’s notable works include the Bird’s Nest stadium in Beijing and the Elbphilharmonie concert hall in Hamburg.
To document the development of the ten-story building, German photographer Wolfgang Tillmans turned his lens to the construction site. He took photos of unfinished staircases, steel beams, building equipment and more. In addition, Tillmans used an old photocopier to give each final image a colorfully abstract effect. The distorted works of art are truly captivating and gives the construction of the massive project a unique picture story. Tate Modern’s Switch House will open to the public on June 17.
