Markus Rock: The Flood

Markus Rock’s solo exhibition The Flood at BBA Gallery is a striking exploration of water as both a life-giving and destructive force. Captured in the summer of 2021, shortly before and during the catastrophic flooding in Germany’s Ahr Valley, the series balances themes of existential threat with an unwavering celebration of joie de vivre.

While the timing and title suggest an ecological commentary, Rock’s focus lies in the defiant enjoyment of life. Water, ever-changing in its form and meaning, becomes both a subject and a medium—at times appearing hard and solid, trapping bodies as if cast in acrylic, then fluid and soft, dissolving contours into abstraction. Elsewhere, it fractures and fragments into restless, flickering structures.

Presented as part of the Monat der Fotografie OFF-Berlin, The Flood invites viewers to confront the precarious balance of life, to embrace both its light and its shadows, and ultimately, to revel in its unyielding vibrancy.