klaus frahm documents theater architecture from an actor's point-of-view

klaus frahm documents theater architecture from an actor’s point-of-view 
image © klaus frahm

since 2010, hamburg-based photographer klaus frahm has been capturing images of ‘the fourth wall’ — a term often used by actors to mean the invisible stage wall where the audience is seated to view a play. from behind the velvet curtain, frahm documents the haunting vacancy of these spaces, revealing rich architectural details that are often overlooked. lighting, seat color scheme and classical construction elements become the primary focus of each composition, framed from the lesser-known vantage point of the actor, when an audience is not present.

image © klaus frahm

although the photos reveal a great deal of depth, the perspective of the camera dissolves the space reserved for the audience as an almost two-dimensional postcard. the color of the seats and tone of the interior is rendered simply, as a graphic scheme of angled lines and shapes. capacity and volume become most visible in the technical space reserved for actors and crew. the camera pans up, showing the dark and moody mechanics of the set, including intricately constructed networks of scaffolding and complex lighting structures. through ‘the fourth wall’, the viewer becomes aware of an unfamiliar workspace, achieving a dynamic contrast between the backstage machinery and the sea of velvet seats.

image © klaus frahm

image © klaus frahm

image © klaus frahm

image © klaus frahm

via [lensculture]