Cookie Consent by Free Privacy Policy website Symbolising an entire industrial region: Heidersberger’s photography “Kraftwerk der Volkswagen AG” turns 50
november 05, 2021 - Volkswagen

Symbolising an entire industrial region: Heidersberger’s photography “Kraftwerk der Volkswagen AG” turns 50

  • Internationally acclaimed artist created an iconic work when picturing Volkswagen’s power plant in Wolfsburg
  • Today at Autostadt: Professor Folke Köbberling, art historian Professor emeritus Dr. Barbara Schellewald, #volkswagen Board Member Thomas Schmall and art historian Dieter Landenberger talk about the influential role of this photography
  • Volkswagen trainees build a large-size photo frame at the original site of the photo shooting
  • Transformation of power plants cuts CO2 emissions at German #volkswagen production sites by 50 percent from 2022 onwards

In the 1960s, photographer #heinrichheidersberger had captured the atmosphere in the #wolfsburg region with its #people, places and production sites in a number of outstanding and timeless images. Providing different impressions of the young industrial city of #wolfsburg, his series of black and white photography includes “Kraftwerk der #volkswagen AG” which Heidersberger took in 1971. It has become not only an artistic icon but also plays a key role for Heidersberger’s body of work and for #volkswagen.

Heidersberger’s work is honored with several events and exhibitions on the occasion of a special jubilee: on November 4 in 1971 he took his famous photo “Kraftwerk”. Tonight, the Autostadt provided the stage for a panel discussion about the art-historical perspective and the current reflection of the artist’s work. Hosted by Armin Maus, Chairman of Autostadt, Prof. Folke Köbberling, artist and lecturer at the Institute for Architecture-related Art at the Technical University of Braunschweig, Prof. emeritus Dr. Barbara Schellewald from the department of arts at University of Basel, as well as Thomas Schmall, member of the #volkswagen AG Board of Management responsible for Technology and CEO of #volkswagen Group Components, and Dieter Landenberger, Head of Heritage at #volkswagen Communications shared their views under the topic “Utopia or Dystopia – Shifting interpretations of an iconic image”.

During the talk, Thomas Schmall underlined: “As an artist, #heinrichheidersberger was gifted with great observation skills that allowed him to show #wolfsburg as a city and as home of the #volkswagen factory in very perceptive, sharp and powerful ways. He was a virtuoso in the perfect arrangement of details, turning his photos into true pieces of art. Looking on our current transformation towards electric mobility and changing production processes, we can also learn from Heidersberger’s critical and creative approach. I specifically admire his “Kraftwerk” photo, because for me it unveils a bold aesthetic and turns into a strong symbol for transformation with the bridge pictured in this image.”

Further information in the press release to download