It could be...
It could very well be a photo of a planet and its atmosphere, or a star - light years away. And yet it is "just" a tulip right at your doorstep. Yes, it is just a super enlarged macro photo of a torch tulip in the morning sun after a thunderstorm.
In the quiet stillness of early morning, when the world holds its breath in anticipation of the dawn, there exists a moment suspended in time. It is within this delicate pause that the magic of "Nightflight to Venus" unfolds.
In a quaint garden, nestled amidst the ordinary, stands a solitary torch tulip, its petals aglow with the remnants of a passing storm. Through the lens of a camera, its essence is magnified, revealing a universe of detail unseen by the naked eye. Each delicate curve and vibrant hue tells a story of resilience and beauty.
As the morning sun caresses the earth with its golden fingers, the tulip becomes a beacon of hope, a symbol of life's enduring spirit. It dances in the gentle breeze, casting shadows that stretch like whispers across the ground.
But beyond the confines of the garden, beyond the boundaries of this small world, lies a vast expanse of possibility. To the untrained eye, "Nightflight to Venus" may seem like a distant galaxy, a starry haven in the depths of space. Yet, it is here, right at our doorstep, where its true wonder resides.
For in the heart of this humble tulip lies the essence of all things extraordinary. It is a reminder that beauty knows no bounds, that magic exists in the most unexpected of places. And as we gaze upon its magnificence, we are transported on a journey of wonder and awe.
So let us embrace the marvels that surround us, let us cherish the moments of quiet splendor that grace our lives. For in the simplest of things, in the smallest of moments, we may find the greatest treasures of all. And perhaps, just perhaps, we too can embark on our own "Nightflight to Venus," guided by the light of a single, radiant bloom.
I wrote this last year (2023) when I shot this photo:
"Recently, a friend of mine asked 'why do you do what you do'. Just the day before, I had been working on the series 'The Color Codes' in the early morning sun. My response to her question was:
"Recently, a friend of mine asked 'why do you do what you do'. Just the day before, I had been working on the series 'The Color Codes' in the early morning sun. My response to her question was:
You ask why I do what I do. Because I love experiencing this: In the early hours of the morning, when most of the world is still asleep and the day unveils its first light, a tulip appears before my eyes. Freshly bathed in the rain shower, it gleams in the gentle morning sun like a jewel of the moment. Its delicate petals unfold gently, as if they embody the awakening of nature itself. The raindrops resting on them glisten like small diamonds brought to life by the sun. In this moment, I realize that this tulip is more than just a flower. It is a symbol of the magic that surrounds us and the beauty we can discover in the world.
As I gaze at the image, I feel the gentle touch of a morning kiss from Mother Nature on my skin. It's a kiss of love and awakening that carries me into the arms of the day. It's a kiss that reminds me how precious life is and how important it is to recognize the beauty in every moment.
The tulip stands majestically, as if it were winking at me and conveying a declaration of love from nature. In its simple existence, it brings joy and hope to my heart, and I can't help but be grateful to it for this precious moment.
May the tulip in its morning glory always remind us that love and beauty surround us, even in the seemingly insignificant moments of life."
Week 11 - Slit scan photography. Several thousand photos capture the change of space and time.
"Consciousness of 'The Three Musketeers'"
Are we simply conscious of our surroundings, or does consciousness manifest through us, perhaps as a conduit for a greater universal consciousness? Is consciousness omnipresent, permeating everything, with all existence intertwined in its fabric? These are questions that have puzzled philosophers and thinkers for centuries, and perhaps there are no definitive answers.
What I do know is this: there are aspects of reality that lie beyond the grasp of human perception. Take, for example, slit-scan photography. It unveils a realm invisible to the naked eye, offering a unique perspective on time and space. Through the images captured by slit-scan techniques, we glimpse a reality that challenges our conventional understanding. It hints at the relativity of time and space, suggesting that our perception of these fundamental constructs may be limited by our human faculties.
In contemplating slit-scan works, we are confronted with the profound notion that reality is not always as it appears. It prompts us to question our perceptions and consider alternative viewpoints. Perhaps, in this distortion, we find a metaphor for the enigmatic nature of consciousness itself – elusive, multifaceted, and ever-evolving.
In essence, slit-scan photography serves as a portal to a realm where the boundaries between the seen and the unseen blur, inviting us to explore the depths of our consciousness and the mysteries of existence.
Week 10 - Slit scan photography. Several thousand photos capture the change of space and time.
So young and already such a history. I created this work in 2023, but it already has a very eventful and moving story behind it. An award, 10.000 flight miles, a journey through three countries, a theft, and a sale. But let's start from the beginning.
When I had finished the piece and saw the first print in front of me, I immediately thought of Coney Island, my favorite place in New York City. The colors reminded me of Coney Island, a bit of Nathan's, a bit of Wonder Wheel, a bit of Parachute Jump, a bit of the huge "Coney Island" sign in the underpass, a bit of the Atlantic, and much more reminded me of Coney Island. I didn't know back then that the eventful history of Coney Island as the "Nickel Empire" and a workplace for crooks, including Al Capone, would play a role in the later life of the artwork.
So, the work had its name.
After that, things happened quickly. The artwork was awarded by ARTBOX.PROJECTS, Switzerland, and won a spot at the Spectrum/Red Dot Miami exhibition as part of Art Week Miami 2023. Then the following happened: the artwork exhibited in Miami (64cm x 36cm) was stolen by professional art thieves on the way back to Germany, and a second, much larger print (180 x 115cm) was sold in the USA. Was this the karma of Coney Island or just a coincidence? Regardless, I love this image very much and can lose myself and fall in love with it anew every day (an AP hangs in our living room).
Week 09 - Slit scan photography. Several thousand photos capture the change of space and time.
With this work, I aim to draw attention to the often spoken phrase 'I see.' Sometimes, I think we use 'I see' a bit thoughtlessly, and it might be quite beneficial to pause for a moment whenever one says 'I see' and consciously consider the significance of what is being said.
Week 08 - Slit scan photography. Several thousand photos capture the change of space and time.
This is a very emotional work. Like always, when I start a new slit-scan work, I have only a vague idea of the result. What I certainly know is the emotional goal I want to target at. With this goal in mind, I first decide on the subjects on the turntable. In the finished work one might hardly see with the eyes, what had been placed on the turntable, but the heart might feel it. So, the subjects are the emotional link to the real world. The link between the ‘real’ world, and the ’space over time world’, which is nonetheless real, but invisible to our eyes. The next thing I do is to determine the position of the mirrors. The position of the mirrors is very important, because in the end, the mirrors envelop the subjects in a smooth wadding. Finally, I decide on the speed of the turntable with the subjects on it. Slower means less or no repeating forms and a more peaceful results, faster means more repeating forms and kind of more energy in the results. Beside the basic camera settings, where the aperture has a very important role, this is it. Then I start with taking the photos. The many thousand photos then go through the slit-scan developing process and only then I see what came out – depending on the project, sometimes many hours later.
Most of the times I am surprised of the results. But this one here touched me so much. It might not be as spectacular as others on the first glance, but its tender forms and colors always make me think of a dream like walk through a mirror cabinet and thus always calms me down, makes me quite and humble. And most of all, for me it is HOPE itself.
Most of the times I am surprised of the results. But this one here touched me so much. It might not be as spectacular as others on the first glance, but its tender forms and colors always make me think of a dream like walk through a mirror cabinet and thus always calms me down, makes me quite and humble. And most of all, for me it is HOPE itself.
Week 02 - Abstract photography. Photos. Not more. Not less. Nothing else.
Paper, colors, photography.
