Introduction: Relics of the Future (02:28)

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Art insiders describe Toni Hafkenscheid’s style of photography, which gives the appearance that his subjects are miniature toys. The photographer is taking photographs of buildings. He is attracted to the notion that the future is hopeful.

Miniaturizing Reality (03:13)

Hafkenscheid admires a photograph of Chicago's Marina City, a building that seemed futuristic in 1969. He spent five years traveling the United States and Europe, photographing architectural structures that were considered visions of the future. He discusses his use of tilt-shift photography.

Bauhaus Movement (04:32)

Hafkenscheid and his friend, Dirk Kome, are in Chicago to film the twin towers of Marina City. Experts discuss the city’s architecture and how it was shaped by the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 and legendary architect Mies Van Der Rohe.

Unique High-Rise (04:16)

Paul Van Der Laar of Rotterdam Historical Museum explains modernism. Frank Youngwerth of the Chicago Architecture Foundation and historian Steve Dahlam discuss the history of Marina City, which was designed by Van Der Rohe’s disciple, Bertrand Goldberg.

Photographic Duo (02:12)

Hafkenscheid taught Kome at the Gerrit Rietveld Academie in Amsterdam before taking him on as an assistant. Kome practices a more straightforward, documentary style of photography. He "collects" things by taking pictures of them.

Rebuilding Rotterdam (03:56)

Hafkenscheid returns to his hometown, where his father still lives. Historian Paul Van De Laar recalls the city's decimation during World War 2 and its reconstruction based on modernist ideas. Hafkenscheid has fond memories of the Apollo 11 mission.

Gateway to the West (04:19)

Hafkenscheid visits St. Louis to photograph the Gateway Arch. Preservationist Esley Hamilton discusses the structure's history and its design by Eero Saarinen. After photographing the arch from multiple angles, Hafkenscheid gets the best image from a nearby bridge.

Talking to Strangers (03:09)

Kome and Hafkenscheid stop in a town near St. Louis were Kome takes photographs of locals. He discusses how he chooses his subjects and earns their trust. A local explains how he deals with dangerous snakes while fishing.

Childhood Trauma (04:47)

Hafkenscheid recalls his mother's death from cancer in the 1960s. The photographer spends time with his father and friends, who recall him winning the prestigious Kodak Award and his years at Geritt Reitveld Academy.

Utopian Vision of the Future (02:26)

Hafkenscheid recalls how many imagined the world would be by the year 2000. He travels to New York to photograph the Unisphere, a relic of the 1964 New York World’s Fair.

New York World's Fair Revisited (06:58)

Hafkenscheid returns to the Unisphere; John Kriskiewicz of New York City Parks discusses the structure's history and its designers, Gilmore David Clarke and Peter Muller-Munk. The nearby New York State Pavilion is an example of postmodernism. Futurama 2 predicted a global highway system.

On the Road (03:40)

Hafkenscheid and Kome discuss traveling the United States together. They have differing approaches to documenting all that they have seen. Kome returns to Amsterdam as his friend heads north to Canada.

Expo 67 (06:25)

Hafkenscheid travels to Montreal, site of the 1967 International and Universal Exposition. He takes photographs of Habitat 67, once billed as the apartment complex of the future. Experts discuss architect Moshe Safdie's innovative design and the impact the fair had on the city.

Idealism of the Era (03:09)

Art Curator Lee Petrie discusses Hafkenscheid's aesthetic and the appeal of his work. Experts reflect on the zeitgeist of the 1960s, a time of tremendous change and optimism.

Photographer's Epiphany (03:21)

Hafkenscheid explains how tilt-shift photography helps him capture the way he sees the world. He reflects on his journey which he characterizes as "a trip down memory lane,” connecting his images with a time before his mother died.

Credits: Relics of the Future (41:08)

Credits: Relics of the Future