For this photography project we tried to take an objective look at the current landscape situation of the Rhenish lignite mining area. In reminiscence of the New Topographic Movement we documented this future post-industrial carcasses without judgment. In particular parts of the strip mine area, nature already started to claim back its territory.
The open-pit coal mines of “Hambach” (85km²), “Garzweiler” (31km²) and “Inden” (13km²) form the largest surface mining area in Europe and produce almost 100 million tonnes of brown coal every year. The bucket-wheel excavators and stackers are ranking among the biggest machines in the history of mankind. The “Bagger 293” at Hambach reaches a length of 225m, a height of 96m and a weight of 14.200 tonnes, making it the heaviest land vehicle of all time.
