TRADE FAIR-
TURNED-
GALLERY
HALF-TIME
LIFE LEAVES A MARK; it draws fine lines and deep
creases, causes scratches and scars – or an even complexion.
Faces are like a curriculum vitae – they tell stories, leave
puzzles to be explained, arouse curiosity.
In 2014 – the year in which the people born in the year with
the highest birthrate in the history of the Federal Republic
turned 50 – the “Halbzeit” (half-time) exhibition along the exhi-
bition halls at the Hamburg Fair site showed just how different
men and women from Hamburg look at the age of 50.
From 4 July to 6 December, visitors could admire 50 im-
pressive and expressive portraits of 50-year-olds whom the
photographer, Michael Korte (see photo), had approached on
the streets of Hamburg. The most unusual thing about the
large-format black-and-white portraits is that they were not
retouched. “Fifty is a turning point in one’s life – a moment
to pause, to look around, to look into one’s own face,” said
the artist, commenting on his idea. What he was mainly in-
terested in was showing the subjects’ personality, maturity, in-
dividuality and diversity, but also in drawing attention to the
topic of growing older in our society.
✱ ✱ ✱
The idea of displaying 50 portraits of
50-year-old men and women from Hamburg
in the exhibition halls under the heading
“Half-time” met with a very positive
response from the general public. The
facade of the exhibition halls was thus
turned into an innovative gallery in a
public space.
The exhibition halls are a landmark in Hamburg’s cityscape.
From time to time, their glass facades are turned into art
galleries in public spaces.
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Hamburg Messe und Congress | Annual Report 2014
HALF-TIME