Hippies, Nuns and Acrobats
The exhibition “MitMenschen – Von Hippies, Nonnen und Akrobaten” showcases an essential segment of the photographic legacy of Thomas Hoepker. Central to this exhibition is the human element, capturing a diverse range of everyday situations and events. The visual stories these images tell can sometimes read like a book, revealing layers of the human experience. Many of these largely unknown photographs were “rediscovered” last summer in Hoepker’s archive.
As a photojournalist, Thomas Hoepker has traveled the globe, documenting the suffering of poverty, famine, and hardship, while also capturing the beauty of nature and human existence. His enduring interest lies with people and societal issues. Hoepker is a humanist, and his photographic approach is often associated with “concerned photography,” a form of social documentary photography. His always attentive and sensitive gaze produces politically and socially critical images, often infused with a good dose of humor. Importantly, he never exploits his subjects but meets them with the necessary respect. Chance acts as a catalyst in his photographic work, reflecting reality that often captures irony and wit.
The images on display predominantly feature everyday scenes, humorous situations, or people, landscapes, peculiar architectures, or simply graphic scenarios. Among them is a wedding couple in Portugal posing with their wedding party, yet their faces betray an absence of happiness. Another image depicts a nun peeking out from a doorway, with an advertisement for “Klosterfrau” (a well-known German health product) hanging above her head. Another captures a window with a notice board from a lending library, beneath which puzzle booklets and dime novels are clipped with clothespins.
The list of situational comedy that prompts a smile is extensive. One thing is especially clear from these images: they reveal a photographer behind the camera who skillfully uses thoughtful composition, stylistically blending humor, subtlety, and calmness to capture societal snapshots. These works are just a few historical visual documents among many that lie dormant in Hoepker’s archive, waiting to be revisited and appreciated.
“Our task is to extract noteworthy moments from the chaos of everyday life.” - Thomas Hoepker
The exhibition stands as a testament to Hoepker’s ability to convey the complexities of the human condition through his lens, offering viewers a unique and insightful glimpse into the myriad facets of life.
