VIEWS OF NATURE (ANSICHTEN DER NATUR), 2024 - 2025

Considered the father of ecology, 19th-century naturalist Alexander von Humboldt (1769–1859) was the first scientist to see everything in nature is interconnected. His approach was deeply rooted in wonder, emphasising the importance of feeling and imagination in perceiving the natural world. Inspired by his eponymous travelogues, Views of Nature explores his thinking using excerpts as both titles and starting points for the works.

"Nature must be experienced with feeling”, Humboldt wrote to Goethe. Scientists who'd describe the world exclusively by classifying plants, animals and rocks would “never really get to know her”.

The cyanotype - often used as a mere tool for documentation in 19th-century botany - allows for a counter-narrative. Through toning the cyanotypes with a variety of natural tannins, the series aims to adopt a more earthly character that mirrors the natural world while aiming to spark a sense of wonder and mysticism through their subject matter and pictorialism. Aiming for balance in reason and feeling, Views of Nature (2024-2025) reflects Humboldt's plea for sensibility as a potential antidote to the modern day alienation.