Thibault Drutel captures architectural symmetry in European subway stations – Huge
Europe is home to some of the world’s most famous public transportation systems, from Paris Métropolitain to Berlin U-Bahn to Stockholm Metro. The latter by chance is a series of extraordinary underground public art exhibitions, which is also “the longest art exhibition in the world”, which is over 68 miles long. The artist has played an important role in the design of urban radio since 1957, creating immersive multi-sensory experiences that go far beyond communicating passengers from point A.
For Thibault Drutel, the construction of an underground train station is crucial to the experience and aesthetics of the journey, beyond the basic functions of obtaining the location. From Hamburg to Stockholm, through Berlin, Munich and Brussels, he captured the interior of the iconic location Symmetrical subwaymatches the lens timing with passing trains that fill every scene with high-speed energy.
“European Metro offers a rich visual diversity,” Drutel continued:
Each city adopts differently to underground buildings, mixing together barbarism, futurism, minimalism, or sometimes unexpected decorative touches. What attracted me was the symmetry that sometimes found in these spaces – not only in their layout, but also the repetition of the pattern, the mirroring of the platform and the accuracy of the design. They are places built for efficiency, but they have an unintentional aesthetic that can be very powerful when viewed closely.
For many, subway travel is an ordinary daily activity, but is usually not worth noting. Designed to highlight the unique features of these everyday spaces, Drutel exaggerates perspectives, captures movement, emphasizes the source of artificial lighting and highlights various styles.
It can take a while to find the right moment and the right shot. Position, position and timing are aligned perfectly. Drutel does not consider his working documentary in the traditional sense, but rather an explanatory approach focusing on finding aesthetic harmony in unexpected places.
More broadly, Druttle’s practice emphasizes countless elements of global architecture, which he describes as “a silent form of storytelling.” He added: “It illustrates intention, history, culture and function – but is often overlooked in our daily haste. When I shoot, I try to freeze that moment, in that moment, the built environment reveals about human rhythms, urban orchestration or our sense of space.”
Drutel plans to visit three more cities this year to continue the series. Find more information on the artist’s website where you can buy prints and follow the updates on Instagram.
