{"id":173911,"date":"2025-06-10T21:10:14","date_gmt":"2025-06-10T21:10:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/173911\/"},"modified":"2025-06-10T21:10:14","modified_gmt":"2025-06-10T21:10:14","slug":"thibault-drutel-captures-architectural-symmetry-in-europes-subway-stations-colossal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/173911\/","title":{"rendered":"Thibault Drutel Captures Architectural Symmetry in Europe’s Subway Stations \u2014 Colossal"},"content":{"rendered":"

Europe is home to some of the world\u2019s most renowned public transit systems, from the Paris M\u00e9tropolitain to the Berlin U-Bahn to Stockholm Metro. The latter is incidentally home to a remarkable series of subterranean public art displays<\/a>, too, the \u201cworld\u2019s longest art exhibit\u201d at more than 68 miles long. Artists have been instrumental in the design of the city\u2019s stations since 1957, creating immersive, multi-sensory experiences that go far beyond conveying passengers from point A to point B.<\/p>\n

For Thibault Drutel<\/a>, the architecture of underground train stations is central to the experience and aesthetics of journeys, beyond the essential functionality of getting places. Traveling from Hamburg to Stockholm via Berlin, Munich, and Brussels, he captures the interiors of iconic locations for a series called Symmetric Subway, timing the shots to coincide with passing trains that infuse each scene with high-speed energy.<\/p>\n

\"theTensta, Stockholm<\/p>\n

\u201cEuropean subways offer a rich visual diversity,\u201d Drutel says, continuing: <\/p>\n

\n

Each city approaches underground architecture differently, mixing brutalism, futurism, minimalism, or sometimes unexpected touches of ornamentation. What drew me in was the symmetry sometimes found in these spaces\u2014not only in their layout but also in the repetition of patterns, the mirroring of platforms, and the precision of design. They\u2019re places built for efficiency, yet they possess an unintentional aesthetic that can be quite powerful when observed carefully.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

For many, a subway trip is an daily mundane activity\u2014necessary yet generally not noteworthy. Drutel aims to highlight the unique characteristics of these everyday spaces, exaggerating the perspective, capturing movement, emphasizing artificial lighting sources, and highlighting a variety of styles.<\/p>\n

It can take a while to find the right moment and the right shot; it\u2019s essential that location, position, and timing align perfectly. Drutel doesn\u2019t consider his work documentary in a traditional sense, but more of an interpretive approach focused on finding aesthetic harmony in unexpected places. <\/p>\n

\"theJosephsburg, Munich<\/p>\n

More broadly, Drutel\u2019s practice emphasizes myriad elements of global architecture, which he describes as \u201ca form of silent storytelling.\u201d He adds, \u201cIt speaks of intention, history, culture, and function\u2014but often gets overlooked in our daily rush. When I photograph it, I try to freeze that moment where the built environment reveals something about human rhythm, urban choreography, or our sense of space.\u201d <\/p>\n

Drutel is planning to continue the series with visits to three more cities this year. Find more on the artist\u2019s website<\/a>, where you can purchase prints, and and follow updates on Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"theRichard Wagner, Berlin<\/p>\n

\"theU\u0308berseequartier, Hamburg<\/p>\n

\"theGeorg Brauchle Ring, Munich<\/p>\n

\"theSolna Centrum, Stockholm<\/p>\n

\"thePaulstern, Berlin<\/p>\n

\"theBo\u0308hmerwaldplatz, Munich<\/p>\n

\"theDuvbo, Stockholm<\/p>\n

\"theMoosacher, Munich<\/p>\n

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