Beauty, as the old maxim has it, is in the eye of the beholder. But there are, nevertheless, a pretty strong set of ground rules before the average heart will start to melt. Symmetry, colour, youthfulness and vitality are generally all bankers; decay, dirt and ruin less so.
But German photographer Matthias Haker has an eye for art that brings out the best in anything. In fact, the grimier, the better.
Achieving global recognition for his awe-inspiring pictures of abandoned buildings, the Dresden-based 28-year-old, is at his happiest in the kind of crumbling structures that most of us would run away from.
He’s not interested in industrial ruins – “I don’t get much out of twisted steel and wires,” he says – but is in his element anywhere humans were once found that has now gone to seed. If Mother Nature has started to reclaim the building for herself, better still.
“Such sights arouse varied feelings within me. I feel there’s a lot of beauty in all that chaos and devastation,” he says. Having shot more than 200 abandoned buildings in various locations all over Europe, Matthias plans to shoot shiny, new Dubai this autumn.
But wouldn’t that go against his style? “Not at all – I love new buildings too,” he says. “I’ve heard there is fog in Dubai during October, and I’d love to shoot those shiny, new skyscrapers enveloped in cottony fog. I want to capture the imposing architecture from a relatively high viewpoint, maybe from a helicopter.”
But Matthias may still also be able to indulge in his favourite pastime. “I never thought of the UAE as a place where I’d be able to shoot abandoned buildings,” he says. “But I hear there are a few in some of the far-flung emirates, so maybe I’ll be able to do that as well. Either way, it will be breathtaking.”
He takes time out from behind the lens to share his stunning portfolio and talk to Friday:
How did you come up with the idea of photographing abandoned buildings?
In the area I grew up in, not far from Berlin, there’s a very old hospital and when I first started doing photography in 2008 someone told me about it. I went along to have a look and was absolutely fascinated by it. I knew straight away that I wanted to look out for more.
Could you just wander into the hospital?
At that time the owner allowed anyone to go in – it was almost like a theme park. There were people wandering around, having barbecues. I saw someone walking their dog on the third floor. It sounds pretty weird, but everyone in town seemed to know about it.
When I first entered I was in awe of the beautiful structures the natural decay created in the impressive buildings. The grandeur of a past era was now crumbling to create something I had never seen before and it immediately made me fall in love with those decaying structures. I was so impressed by the sense of majesty the complex exuded, even in ruins, the peeling paint and the colours that suffused it, that I had to photograph it, and right then I decided hunting down such buildings and photographing them would be
an ongoing project.
The hospital was built between 1898 and 1930 as a large tuberculosis sanatorium and was popular in the area. It is still one of most impressive places I have seen ever seen.
What is it about decaying buildings that appeals to you?
It’s fascinating to see such buildings survive in the face of the onslaught of modernity. Looking at it, I’m assailed by philosophical questions as to the end of mankind and what will be left behind when we are all gone. But the overriding sense is of beauty and sadness. As a photographer, I like architecture and interesting structures in general, but you also get some really nice effects through abandonment – often there’s an element of nature striking back and plants have started to grow among the cracks.
I like the emptiness, the peacefulness. I find them glorious, even though at the same time they’re decaying. Their moods are pretty special.
What are your favourite buildings?
I think the very first hospital is among them because it was just so beautiful and had so many different views. Another I really loved was a massive abandoned church [God’s Forgotten Place], it was something amazing to see a building like that just falling apart. Another favourite was an abandoned orphanage [Dreams of Sadness], which had an incredible atmosphere. I came across a huge dormitory with all the beds still inside and it was kind of touching. Sometimes buildings really feel like they have retained a sense of their history and it was especially true there. You could feel the sadness.
Where was it?
Well, let’s say it was somewhere in Europe. There’s a small community of photographers of abandoned buildings and we don’t like to advertise the specifics of the locations too much to keep silly people out. When they become too popular, these places often become trashed or robbed, so I keep things as secret as possible.
How do you find them?
I have contacts throughout Europe – there are a few of us who share locations – but there’s also a lot of research. I can spend whole nights researching places that look like they might be worth it, then I drive through the night a few thousand kilometres, sometimes only to find that it’s already been torn down, converted into flats or I just can’t get in.
These places are not exactly well known, so I probably fail around 50 per cent of the time. But there’s usually a back-up – other buildings I’ve lined up to shoot in the general area.
Do you go alone?
No, that’s not a good idea. It can be kind of dangerous. A friend of mine fell into a hole in an old factory and nearly broke his neck. Luckily he was with a friend. I always take a friend along, or sometimes go in a group of photographers who are interested in this kind of photography.
Has anything like that happened to you?
I was shooting an old prison in the US in a pretty bad area. While I was taking pictures I suddenly noticed someone was sleeping in there – a big crazy-looking guy. I took my camera, sneaked around the corner, grabbed my friend and at that moment we could hear a group of people coming our way who didn’t sound too friendly. It didn’t seem like a good idea to be in there, especially with $10,000 [Dh36,725] of camera equipment, so we clambered down a wall and sneaked out. It was a lucky escape.
Have the buildings ever been a danger?
I’ve not had anything falling on me or anything like that, but it happens from time to time that your foot crashes through a wooden floor. Generally the higher the level, the worse the floor, because the roof is usually damaged and water has flooded in. I have unknowingly entered buildings with floors that were badly damaged; if you know a floor’s going to crash through to the basement, it’s not worth it.
What kind of photograph are you typically looking for?
Something with a great mood. I’m not so much focused on one detail, as some photographers are: I like wide-angle perspective, taking the whole thing in. I try not to rearrange things, but if there’s perhaps one chair in the room you might reposition it so it looks better. Usually I would take something out instead of putting something in.
Is there a trick to photographing buildings?
Always watch the light. There are one or two hours after sunrise and one or two hours before sunset that usually offer the best light. Play around with perspective and try to take as many different shots as you can.
Do you plan to carry on photographing buildings in ruin?
My interest in shooting decaying buildings is an ongoing project. I still do it, travelling to a lot of countries to shoot them. I have travelled to Hungary, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Romania, Poland and France over the past three weeks. In fact, I have a small exhibition coming up next month in Berlin. There will be a bigger one some time in autumn in Paris.
Is there a building that you’re just itching to capture?
There are a few I want to do and hope to do – but there is one place in the UK that sounds really special, although it’s going to be tough to get inside. It’s some kind of ballroom with a glass roof that’s situated under a lake, so you can see the water through the roof as you look up. You have to kayak out across the lake and get in from there, but the owner apparently has a shotgun and will shoot if he sees you. I think I might try to contact him first!
