CHAINED & LOCKED
The German Ruhr area was for many years one of Europe's largest and leading coal industries. The economic crisis in the seventies and eighties has started a large scaled decline which closed many mines, like Zeche Hugo. The urban suburbs living areas are quiet today, the widely spread black coal-dust is slowly fading away. Only industrial historic remains and overgrown black hills are left behind. The large dressing room which is housing hundreds of steel baskets with iron chains that are hanging high from the ceiling. Here the miners dropped their shoes, clothing and personal belongings during their service. With a chain the miners hoisted their basket meter-high to the roof, so personal belongings were safe from theft. By doing this another basket came down with soap and other refreshments to wash the black dust away.
JAN STEL - FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHER - 2013
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