About me

About Beat Hauser, SPERRZONE
Beat Hauser is interested in industrial archaeology and hinstory of Europe. His special area is the brewing industry of Switzerland and the former German Democratic Republic. Since 2003 he is taking pictures of industrial areas and abandoned places within all Europe. On his web site SPERRZONE (www.sperrzone.net) he does not only present his own pictures, but also some information about the related factories and places as well as historical photo post cards, old letter heads, labels, advertisings to document the history of the factories.

Most pictures are taken in abandoned factories. Abandoned places and industrial ruins are generally seen as “spots of dirt” and people feel uncomfortable around them. Often such places have a very long and interesting history, which seems almost forgotten today. Instead of the activity of former days there is nothing but silence and emptiness. Instead of windows, black holes are staring out of the walls. But very often the architecture of elapsed eras is attractive and astonishing. In combination with the emptiness and beginning decay, such places often spread the impression of a dream world. Decay and nature give new structures to strictly geometric forms and lines, e.g. in production halls. Moisture, moss and rust give new colors to gray halls. Beat Hauser tries to capture these impressions with his photographs. Aesthetics of decay is illustrated in its huge variety from huge industrial plants to small details.

Past exhibitions
10 Jun – 1 Jul 2007 3Fotografen3, Alte evangelische Kirche Kirchzarten
(Exhibition of the 3 winners of the „KirchzARTener FOTOsalons 2006“)
2 Dec – 3 Dec 2006 KirchzARTener FOTOsalon 2006, Kurhaus Kirchzarten
(Photo contest with 54 participants, 1. rank)
20 Nov – 21 Nov 2004 KirchzARTener FOTOsalon 2004, Kurhaus Kirchzarten
(Photo contest with 46 participants, 11. rank)
Several beamer shows at party events of „Rigor Mortis“ and „Solanaceae“ in Basle, Aarau, Pratteln and Reinach (all Switzerland)

Picture publications
„Besuchen Sie Europa, solange es noch steht – Verlassene Orte und Industrieruinen fotografiert von Beat Hauser“, Beat Hauser, self production, 2007
(24 page brochure, published for exhibition „3Fotografen3“)
„Einmannbunker - Splitterschutzbauten und Brandwachenstände“, Michael Foedrowitz, Motorbuch Verlag, 2007
(1 picture in the book)
„Überflutet - überlebt - überlistet: Die Geschichte der Juragewässerkorrektionen“, Matthias Nast, Verlag W. Gassmann, 2006
(2 pictures in the book)
„Ethnicities“, Pacific 231, Rotorelief Records, 2006
(pictures for cover artwork for the CD/LP)
„Das Vermächtnis der Wanderer - Band I“, Mike Zupanc, Asaro Verlag, 2005
(picture for cover page artwork; artwork by H.J. Unger)
„Ausnahmezustand“, Zyankali, self production, 2005
(pictures for CD cover, booklet and inlay, incl. artwork)
Humanwirtschaft Januar/Februar 2005 "Was ist los im Osten? - Der Niedergang der neuen Bundesländer.", Humanwirtschaft, 2005
(picture for the cover page of the magazine)
Several flyers for party events of „Rigor Mortis“ and „Solanaceae“