‘Maagni Fi’, Artist in Residence at Waaw from 2014-15, 13.10 – 02.11.2015

"Maangi fii" means "I am here" in Wolof, the local language in Senegal. Well, I am not, but some of my artwork still is. So, as I am proud to have been part of the artist residency community at Waaw in Saint Louis, I am happy to announce that there will be a retrospective of previous artist and my work will be included.

The picture on the right is a pattern, which is part of a paper carpet with the title 'Made in Senegal'. It shows the hands of a local woman whilst producing Thiakry, a millet based breakfast cereal.  The motive echos the bold and colourful fabrics seen all over Africa, whereas the paper carpet itself is 'covering' for various types of foods that are produced in Saint Louis.

Venue: Galérie Éthiopiques, rue Khalifa Ababacar Sy x Potin, Saint Louis, Senegal


Opening times: 11am – 1pm & 7pm – 7pm

Other artwork on display has been created by Carl Fredrik Koltermann, Maya Portner and Tobias Richardson. With this exhibition Waaw is going to open its doors again for a new season of international artist.

‘London Independent Photography’s 27th Annual Exhibition’: 20.10 - 01.11.15

Once again, LIP is celebrating outstanding photography of their members in a gallery in South London, not far from the Tate Modern. The annual exhibition aims to provide a platform for members to exhibit their best work, to be viewed by each other and by the general public.

This time I am going to join the show with 4 images from my ‘Playing Card’ series, a project which is playfully observing our daily routine on mobile devices.
The series was voted to be amongst the best photo projects of the year 2015 and exhibited at the KOLGA AWARD exhibition in Tbilisi, Georgia.

Venue: EMBASSY TEA GALLERY

195-205 Union Street, 
Bankside, London SE1 0LN

Opening times: Monday – Saturday: 11am – 7pm
Sunday: 11am - 6pm

The member's private view takes place on 20th October 2015, from 6.00pm - 9.00pm

'Hà Nội CAPITAL City' Photo Book: Award for 'Best Work' 2015

It is my great pleasure to announce that on 23 Sep. 2015 the photo book I have been working on in 2014 has been honored with the "Bùi Xuân Phái 2015 - Love for Hanoi" Award.

Since 2008 the newspaper 'Sports & Culture' of Vietnam News Agency together with the descendants of the painter Bùi Xuân Phái awards this prestigious prize to projects, which are dedicated to increase awareness of the beauty of Hanoi.

The editor Dr. Michael Waibel is the first German to receive this prestigious award. I am proud to have been part of it.

'fFIP Magazine' no 31, Summer Issue 2015

fLIP is an independent magazine, which is published three times per year by the London Independent Photographers (LIP).  The current issue, no 31, which carries the title 'Neighbourhood', is featuring three images from my series 'Made in Senegal'. The images were created in St. Louis, the former capital city of Senegal, during a four week residency.

The portrait series shows people who make a making a living from small scale food production businesses or livestock keeping.  I would like to acknowledge the people who are directly involved in local food production and highlight their importance for  their communities. The project was started in Vietnam in 2013 and will be continued in Latin America in 2016.


fLIP magazine is the official voice of LIP, which has over 600 members and it aims to support, inspire and inform its readers by featuring members' photographic work with articles that are engaging and entertaining. It 
is available at various stockists across London, including the Tate Modern Bookshop, National Portrait, Serpentine Gallery Bookshop, Whitechapel Gallery Bookshop and many more.

'London Independent Photographers' 8th Greenwich Annual Exhibition, 03.08 - 16.08.15

As every year, the members of the Greenwich group of LIP are showcasing their work at Greenwich Gallery. This year I have chosen to exhibit another image from my work in Vietnam, which was created during a 2month residency in 2013. The image is depicting ‘Tran Thi Ngoc Hoa’, selling lekima (egg fruit) and water apples from her garden. More images from the series 'Made in Vietnam'.

The private view takes place on Saturday, 3th August 2014 from 6.30pm - 8.30pm.
Venue: The Greenwich Gallery at 
Linear House, Peyton Place, London SE10 8RS
 


Opening times: Mo - Fri, 9am - 5.30pm & Sat - Sun, 1pm - 5pm

The series ‘Farmers' has been created in honour of micro food production households and features people who are physically involved in growing or producing food from their homes and gardens. We often forget how labour intensive it is to produce what we eat. Especially in the Western world the connection between food and nature seems to get lost. The aim of the project is to re-establish a relationship with the origin of food provisions.

‘Da Nang: GREEN City’, 3rd book commission in Vietnam, 21.07 – 30.08.15

Another photo book - the last one from a series of three - is in the planning. Soon I will be heading to Vietnam again, this time to the centre of the country.

The focus will be on Da Nang, Hoi An and Hue as the 3 major coastal towns. Like in the previous books, I will explore how people use their personal space, either at work or in their homes.

The book is partly supported by 'Goethe Institute Hanoi' and is going to be published by the beginning of 2016. Watch this space for further announcements...

'Hairdresses' at Galerie Sali E Tabacchi, 08.05 - 05.06.15

The series ‘Hairdressers’ is ready to go on the wall in  Saarbrücken, Germany.

With generous support by photographer Jörg Karrenbauer, ARTgenosse Albert Herbig and Hahnemühle FineArt paper, my 12 guys in curlers will enjoy a comeback at Sali e Tabacchi in May 2015.


Venue address: Galerie Sali E Tabacchi, Feldmannstrasse 144, 66119 Saarbrücken, Germany
Opening Times: Mo, Wed & Fri: 4.00pm – 6.00pm

Private View: Friday, 08.05.15, from 7.00pm



The series ‘Hairdressers’ is inspired by the novel Egalia's Daughters in which the protagonists swapped gender based roles. One particular scene stuck to my mind: men were sitting at a beauty salon, with curlers in their hair and beards. Or waxing of their chest hair, having face masks and so forth. I began to explore: how do men feel and act when being confronted with characteristic female beauty treatment?

The project exists in collaboration with hair & make-up artist Konnie Daniel, who created wonderful effects with her fabulous collection of vintage curlers. For a preview click here.

‘Playing Cards’, KOLGA Award nomination, 01.05.15

Proud announcement: 
my 'Playing Cards' series was voted to be amongst the best photo projects of the year 2015!!!


Eight images (from a deck of 13) were chosen by international jury members for the KOLGA AWARD in the category 'Conceptual Photo Project'.


And if this in not enough, another one of my images was nominated for the category 'One Shot'. The picture was taken during my artist residency at Waaw in Saint Louis, Senegal.

The chosen images will be exhibited from 1st May at the KOLGA AWARD exhibition, which takes place in Tbilisi, Georgia.

There will also be an overall winner for each category. Please keep your fingers crossed for me :)))

‘Sunken Garden’, Costume Design for a 3D Film / Opera, 15.03 - 20.03.15

 

Proud announcement for the third round: the occult mystery film-opera 'Sunken Garden’ by Dutch composer Michel van der Aa and best-selling author David Mitchell (Cloud Atlas) is having a come back at the Opera de Lyon. I was designing the costumes for both, the film as well as for the stage performance - the production took place from 2012 – 2013.

The event is a combination between life performance, 2D documentary style film inserts and a 3D film backdrop throughout the 2nd half of the opera. It was co-commissioned by the English National Opera, the Barbican Centre in London, the Toronto Luminato Festival, the Holland Festival and the Opera de Lyon.

Pictures from the world premiere in London (2013) as well as stills from the film inserts can be seen at this link: http://www.astridschulz.com/sunken-garden/

Part 2: 'Farmers (from: Made in Vietnam)' at the Vietnamese Caphe House, 01.03 - 30.06.15

As previously announced, some of the wonderful people I photographed in Vietnam will still be on display in a London based Vietnamese coffee shop.



I have chosen seven new images for March and April, afterwards they will be swapped for another selection of portraits. The series 'Farmers' were part of a larger body of work, which I created during my artist residency in 2013. After being exhibited in Hue and Hanoi, the images were shipped to London and since waiting to see the light of day again.

In order to celebrate, please join me on Saturday, 7 March at 3.00 for an informal ‘caphe’ meeting. 



Venue: Caphe House at 114 Bermondsey Street, Bermondsey, London SE1 3TX 


Opening times: 
Mon - Fri: 8am – 5.00pm

 / Sat: 9am – 5.00pm / Sun: closed


About the images: the project has been created in honour of micro food production households and features people who are physically involved in growing or producing food from their homes and gardens. We often forget how labour intensive it is to produce what we eat. Especially in the Western world the connection between food and nature seems to get lost. Therefore I visited small-scale farmers and family run production businesses and took portraits of people with their products in order to re-establish a relationship with the origin of food provisions.

'Hà Nội CAPITAL City', Book Publishing Event, 06.03 2015

Proud announcement: my recent Vietnam commission for the second photo book, this time about the city Hanoi, is finally printed and will be available from March.



For this book I photographed between 30-40 individual people and families at their homes and asked them about their relationship to Hanoi. The outcome is forming one chapter in this book, which otherwise documents the developments of Vietnam's capital City, full of ancient traditions and culture. You can see a selection of 'People of Hanoi' on my web site. 



In case you are in Vietnam, the launch event will take place in Hanoi on 6 March at 6pm
Venue: Goethe Institute Hanoi, 56-58 Nguyen Thai Hoc Hanoi, Vietnam). Click here for information.



However, the photo book can also be ordered at Amazon; it is published at 'Fine Art Publishing House', Hanoi, Vietnam, by editor Michael Waibel. The ISBN No is 978-604-78-1965-2

'Made in Senegal' at Gallery Ethiopiques, 12.02 - 27.02.15

Announcement: my artist residency in Senegal is soon coming to its final stage.  The preparations for the final photography exhibition is well on its way. I will be showing 20 portraits, created in Saint Louis, alongside a small selection of images from the series 'Made in Vietnam'.

Venue: galérie Éthiopiques, rue Khalifa Ababacar Sy x Potin, Saint Louis du Senegal

Opening party: Thursday,  12 February 2015, 5pm - 8pm
Opening times: daily except Sunday, 10am - 6pm

The focus of this exhibition is on small scale farmers, family run food production businesses as well as livestock keepers, highlighting their importance for local communities. I would like to acknowledge the people who are directly involved in food production and thoroughly rely on making a living from the 'fruits' of their hands. The project was started in Vietnam in 2013 and I am now investigating local food traditions in different continents (the next one will be in Latin America).

"We often forget how labor intensive it is to produce what we eat. Especially in the Western world the connection between food and nature seems to get lost. With my images I would like to reestablish a relationship with the origin of food provisions".

Link for viewing a selection of the images: www.astridschulz.com/senegal/

Project: ‘Made in Senegal', Artist Resdency, 15.01 – 16.02.15

More than a year after my productive time in Central Vietnam, I am returning to my project on local small scale 'food production'. This time I am invited for a further Artist Residency at Waaw in Saint-Louis in Senegal.

Intention of the project: we often forget how labor intensive it is to produce what we eat. Especially in the Western world the connection between food and nature seems to get lost. Therefore I am going to visit fisherman and small-scale farmers as well as family run production businesses in the region around Saint Louis. For the duration of 3 weeks I will take portraits of people with their products in order to re-establish a relationship with the origin of food provisions.

Waaw is an artists' residence, which aims to promote Senegalese and African culture and to facilitate cultural exchange by bringing people together for work or study. The main focus is on art and design. Waaw provides a work base and accommodation for creative people seeking inspiration in the local environment and culture.

My time in Saint-Louis starts on 16^th January and I am working towards an exhibition, which opens mid February. The exhibition is going to feature a series of portraits, featuring people who are physically involved with growing or producing Senegalese food including fishing or life stock keeping. Next to the local portraits I will also exhibit some of the images, which I created in Vietnam in 2013.

Further information will follow in time...

'Playing Cards', at Flaxon Ptootch Salon, 11.12.14 - 14.01.15

Christmas party at the legendary Flaxon Ptootch hair salon: come and get your 'Playing Cards'!

The project itself is a collaboration between myself and the fabulous team at the Flaxon Ptootch hair salon: together we created a set of playing cards. We wish to have them ready for the event and additionally exhibit the images for one month, starting on 11th December.  

Please come and join us for entertainment, drinks and games on our private view & Christmas event: Thursday, 11.12.14, 7.00pm - 10.00pm 

Venue: Flaxon Ptootch, 237 Kentish Town Rd, Kentish Town, London NW5 2JT

Opening times: Mo, Thurs & Fri: 10.30am – 7.00pm

Wed: 10.30 to late / Sat: early to 7.00pm / Tuesday & Sunday: closed

The ‘Playing Cards’ project is playfully observing our daily routine on mobile devices. It seems that mobile phones and tablets have become our new best friends, we never leave them unattended. But what happens to the seemingly endless stream of data we leave behind? All this private information we post and tweet about our lives; where is it really going? Who is the one that knows everything about us? Come and find out on 11th December...

'Farmers (from: Made in Vietnam)' at the Vietnamese Caphe House, 01.12.14 - 30.06.15

Finally, some of the wonderful people I photographed in Vietnam will be on display in a London based Vietnamese coffee shop.

The series 'Farmers' were part of a larger body of work which I created during my artist residency in 2013. After being exhibited in Hue and Hanoi, the images were shipped to London and since waiting to see the light of day again. Eight images will be chosen and exchanged in February for another selection of farmers. The exhibition will last for 6 month in total.

In order to celebrate, please join me on Saturday, 6 December at 3.30 for an informal opening / ‘caphe’ meeting. 

Venue: Caphe House at 114 Bermondsey Street, Bermondsey, London SE1 3TX


Opening times:
Mon - Fri: 8am – 5.00pm

 / Sat: 9am – 5.00pm / Sun: closed
Also closed for 3 weeks from 20 December to 10 January!!!

About the images: the project has been created in honour of micro food production households and features people who are physically involved in growing or producing food from their homes and gardens. We often forget how labour intensive it is to produce what we eat. Especially in the Western world the connection between food and nature seems to get lost. Therefore I visited small-scale farmers and family run production businesses and took portraits of people with their products in order to re-establish a relationship with the origin of food provisions. The series will be continued in Senegal from January to February 2015.

'Hà Nội: CAPITAL CITY', 2nd book commission in Vietnam

Following my photo book commission in Vietnam 2013 (TP. HCM Mega City).  I had the pleasure to be called again for another photo book, this time in Ha Noi.

In 3 weeks I photographed over 40 individual people and families in their homes or at work and asked them about their personal relationship to Ha Noi. The outcome is forming one chapter in this book, which otherwise documents the recent developments of the historical Capital City in Vietnam.



For my chapter ('The people of Hanoi') I wanted to take a closer look behind the facade and explore how people use their personal space. This gave me the opportunity to gather a fascinating insight into homes and workplaces from rich to poor, from younger to older generations and from migrants to those who lived here all their lives and helped to shape this city.

The book is sponsored and supported by Goethe Institute Hanoi and will be published beginning of 2015. More information will follow in time.

'Fitzrovia Journal' Issue No.3 Launch Party, 23.10.14

Issue No 3 (‘Creativity’) is about to emerge!!! Soon you will find this new magazine on Fitzrovia at selected newsagents and cafes local to its neighborhood.

But before you can read these stories (written by Kirk Trueman), be invited to join the launch event, which is happening on Thursday, 23 October, 6.00pm - 9.00pm

Venue: 'The Kings Canary'
81 Great Titchfield Street, London W1W 6RQ

I am also proud to announce that the magazine is holding two of my photo essays, including the cover picture of Shabnam Esl, a very gifted fashion designer. Shabnam draws her inspiration from ancient Persia and her creations are astonishingly beautiful.
My other photo story are about a fashion shop called In-Ku, run by Carin, a lovely lady from New Zealand. Carin is also very creative and her designs are very natural and charming. The footprint of her shop is tiny, but the space is well designed over several floors. Get the 'Fitzrovia Journal' to find out more...

'TP. Hà Nội Capital City', 2nd book commission in Vietnam, 21.09 - 02.11.14

It seems only a short while ago that I spent some highly fruitful time in Vietnam. Perhaps you remember; next to my artist residency I also I had a commission for a chapter in a photo book in Ho Chi Minh City.

Well, I am pleased to announce that I have been invited back. This time I will be working on a photo book in Hanoi, sponsored by 'Goethe Institute' in Vietnam. Once again I will be taking a closer look behind the facade and explore how people use their personal space... The book will be published by the end of this year (wait for further announcements).

'Wedding Projection' for Michael and Lucy, 24.08.14

With pleasure and joy I would like to announce the wedding of Michael & Lucy, which took place on 24th August in Kentish Town.

This exiting event provided me with an interesting photo opportunity. Video designer & animation director Zsolt Balogh was commissioned to produce a gigantic projection for the wedding reception. Zsolt created 5 superimposed images in total, displayed via 3 projectors against the wall of the entire venue and the effect was absolutely amazing.

The photography for the projection was provided by me (full body shots, see above) and photographer Douglas Cape (close ups). In case you getting inspired in having something like this for your wedding or other special events, you know where to find us... :)

'Playing Cards', new creative project at Flaxon Ptootch

With joy and anticipation, I started a new series: for the coming weeks I will be working on a set of playing cards - based on real life observations and modern ways of communication...

My creative partners are Michael Phootch, owner of the legendary hair saloon and gallery Flaxon Phootch, his hair styling colleague Sophia Eltayeb and the wonderful make-up artist  Mary Ellen Lamb.

Almost all models are clients and friends from the fan club of the hair saloon, demonstrating the skill set of Michael (King of Kentish Town, see picture) and Sophia. However, we are still short of one king... Any brave takers?

Watch this space!!! There will be an exhibition in December, just in time before Christmas. Pop in and see for yourself: this is not just a hair saloon!!!

Further announcements will follow shortly.