In 1997, the photographer immortalized the passenger jet Concorde at the moment of takeoff. Twenty years later, his series is a reminder of delusions of grandeur in a divided Europe.
While Wolfgang Tillmans’ work was on view at Tate Modern in London last spring, the photographer spoke up to denounce the idea of Brexit. Far from being politically engaged, his series on the supersonic jet Concorde nevertheless reminds us that Europe has its share of grandeur and its share of misery. Invented in the late 1960s, the Concorde was the pride of French and British aviation until its brutal fall from grace during its final flight in 2003. The plane crash of July 2000, followed by financial difficulties, had put an end to the adventure.
