Benchmarks

At the park, in the street, at train stations and in waiting rooms: benches are an integral part of our public spaces – a place to sit and watch the world go by, but also to connect and socialise. Far beyond their functional purpose, benches are the setting for any number of stories, as the current exhibition at the Fotografie-Forum Monschau illustrates. 

Barbara Klemm, Elliott Erwitt, Thomas Hoepker and Eve Arnold are among the 28 represented artists who captured people on benches around the world. The featured genres are equally diverse, ranging from classic street photography to orchestrated images, all the way to portraits of stars such as Bob Dylan or Marilyn Monroe. 

The bench becomes the stage on which the whimsical and absurd, the melancholic and unsettling moments of life can be revealed: each of the showcased works tells a unique, self-contained story that sparks the viewer’s imagination – often infused with a subtle dose of humour.  

The showcase – titled Bankgeheimnisse (Bench Secrets) continues at the Fotografie-Forum Monschau until 16 June 2024.