‘Salon 09’ Group Show from 30.10 - 06.12.2009

Salon 09 is an annual exhibition for members of the Four Corners Photo-Imaging Network (PIN) and features collectable photography from it’s members.

Opening times: Wednesday - Saturday, 1pm - 6pm
Preview: 6.30-8.30pm on Thursday 29th October 2009

Astrid contribution to this exhibition is the image ‘Gluttony’ from the series ‘7 Deadly Sins‘: Imagine a magazine cover, assuming the church wishes to publish a modern glossy magazine, describing all aspects of a sinful life...

This exhibition is part of Photomonth 09, East London’s annual photography festival, with more than 150 exhibitions and events in over 85 venues.

Four Corners’ gallery space has a long and celebrated track record as an exhibition venue.Their exhibition program aims to commission and exhibit up to four significant visual arts projects each year to a local, national and international audience. Four Corners provides a key platform for artists in the early stage of their careers, as well as more established artists, and a focus for East London’s diverse artistic community.

More info: www.fourcornersfilm.co.uk

‘Cows and the Earth’ Book publishing commission, August 2009

Astrid has finally completed her latest commission for a book publication by Fitzrovia Press, London. The book ‘Cows and the Earth’ is describing the benefits of vegetarian food for the future of the planet Earth. Vegetable based diets will contribute to minimization of animal cruelty and habitat destruction. The underlining message is back to natural and UK based farming. The book is describing a small farm in the heart of Herefordshire at the Bhaktivedanta Manor Krishna Temple. The farm is running a cow protection centre and, that agricultural land can be farmed by ox power and milk cam be produced without animal cruelty (usually caused by commercial methods like milking machines, indoor captivity or artificial fodder components).

Image archive for 'Cows and the Earth': www.astridschulz.com/cows

For information on the book please visit www.fitzroviapress.com

A second publication is on the way: a guidebook on the Hare Krishna temple near Watford, north of London, in connection with the International Society For Krishna Consciousness. The book is due for Spring 2010. For updated information watch this space.

For information about the Krishna temple please visit www.krishnatemple.com

‘Between Fiction & Desire’ Exhibition from 21.04 - 02.06.2009

A reminder from the past: Astrid Schulz, ex costume designer, proudly presents a joined exhibition with Mary Ellen Lamb, artist and make-up designer.
Astrid and Mary Ellen meet 12 years ago, whilst working on a movie production. They quickly established a bond and are now celebrating their friendship by showcasing their artistic work at London’s famous Leadenhall Market.
Most of Astrid’s personal work is still influenced by the world of film and TV productions. Her photographic portraits are often conceptual fiction and her sitters are encouraged to transform into imaginary characters.
Mary Ellen Lamb studied art at the prestigious Pratt Institute in New York before moving to London. She works as a professional make-up artist, but also creates dream landscapes, influenced by her American heritage and pop culture (www.maryellenlamb.com).

Opening party: Wednesday, 22.04.09, 6-8pm

Venue: Brokers Wine Bar & Restaurant, 9 Leadenhall Market, London, EC3V 1LR

How to get there: www.brokerswinebar.co.uk

‘Car Park’ Exhibition from 19.01 – 13.03.2009

The award winning series ‘Car Park’ is on show in Hove, Brighton (South East England).

Opening party: Friday, 23.01.09, 7-9pm

Venue: The Space @ Acumen
Acumen Business Group, Audley House
Hove Street, Hove, BN3 2DE

View by appointment: thespace@acumenbusinessgroup.com

On New Year’s Eve in 2006 Astrid had a very special experience. A sudden change of weather turned her journey upside down, but also lead to the mesmerizing images in her ‘Car Park’ series. Her images shall remind us in the unpredictability of life. There is an underlining message about the threat of recent climate changes and how little we know about protecting ourselves. Many people are not fully aware about the meaning of the environmental problems, but in some countries drastic changes have already altered peoples lives in often tragic ways. The images in ‘Car Park’ are a silent reminder to think about the way we take our comfortable lives for granted, but nothing lasts forever…

Journey to Cambodia 11 February - 23 March 2008

A project on French colonial and modernist 1960's architecture brought Astrid to Cambodia. The main focus was on Battambang, Cambodia’s third largest city, which still has a large number of colonial buildings in its centre. However, many are under tread to be modernised or even demolished.
A current building and foreign investment boom has raised awareness to save cultural heritage. Cambodia’s cities and towns are rather sleepy and don’t yet compete with other South - East Asian cities. On the other hand, the facades of local streets are adopting western characteristics such as large billboards, concrete and glass as building materials and rising floor levels.

The German Development Service (DED) is currently supporting the city of Battambang , which is working on a co-operational project on city planning and structural improvements. Inspired by the given information Astrid spend some additional time photographed buildings all over Cambodia and found them to be evidential of recent history.


Impermanent Utopia
(A Cambodian tale of constant change and instability)

What comes to mind when you think of Cambodia? Is it Angkor Wat’s ancient civilization or the Khmer Rouge as just another human made disaster, based on idealistic ideas? Interestingly enough we can never avoid finding silent signs of ‘long time gone’ stories. Weather or not we are able to understand them is another question. It may just be a heap of stones, a pile of rubble perhaps, telling us some facts. Is it the stones that are so interesting or is it the people who left them behind?

Image archive link: Kep - by the beach

Journey to Venice December 2007

Treviso Dormitory

There wasn’t much to do in Venice when I visited last year… It all started well on the day of arrival, although I only had one hour before the sun went down to get a glimpse of the city’s famous beauty.
Alas, the weather changed the following morning...

Image archive for Treviso Dormitory

London Photographic Association Awards 2007

The London Photographic Association is a creative organisation showcasing commercial and fine art photography portfolios. One of their yearly activities is to run photography competitions throughout the year, covering the various genres of the medium. In summer 2007 Astrid was highly recommended in the 'Open Summer Competition' with a series called 'Car Park'. Her 'frozen' images were taken during a trip to Spindleruv Bouda, Krkonoae, (about 1200m above see level), north of Czech Republic, on the last day of December 2005.


Car Park

Have you ever wondered - when sitting in a plane and looking out of the window - what it would be like inside a cloud, where everything is white and had no definition? Last December I found out - of course - one would see absolutely nothing and it is far from being romantic...

Image archive link: 'Car Park'

Journey to Israel 2006

In April 2006 Astrid was commissioned to document the annual Universal Peace Conference in Jerusalem. She extended the journey for a documentary project on zoos in Israel as well as the Palestinian territories. One story attracted her in particular: the isolated zoo in Qalqilya, a small town in the West Bank, which is totally enclosed by the separation wall.

Image archive for Qalqilya Zoo, Palestinian Territory


Other observations on living conditions are photographed in the different areas Astrid encountered.

Image archive for Seperation Wall at Al Ezaria, East Jerusalem
Image archive for Elay Sinai Camp, Jewish Settlers after Disengagement, 2006
Image archive for Impressions from Jerusalem


Jaffa (Oranges or what?)

Jaffa is beautiful, so I was told, romantic and really old. So when I arrived I expected to see the flavour of its Palestinian history. Indeed, the first impression after I got out of the car in at night matched my expectations: warm air coming from the sea, the scent of a hookah across the pavement and the bustling atmosphere at Jaffa’s centre near the clock tower. Promising, I thought...

Image archive for Jaffa, Tel Aviv

Journey to Nepal 2005

Commissioned by the charity organisation ROKPA International Astrid spend one month in Kathmandu’s Tibetan Quarter.
Working with ROKPA included documenting the soup-kitchen and medical services for the countless beggars around the stupa.
Aid is only available during the harsh wintertime and desperately needed. However, ROCKPA also established a children's home and a training program for single mothers.

Fascinated by the Buddhist culture Astrid visited monasteries in Boudhanath’s neighbourhood and spend one week in a nunnery on the Sivapuri Mountain. Nagi Gompa is the second largest Buddhist nunnery and offers a interesting insight into the richness of Tibetan believes.

Other topics include a Nepalese hospital and a local school.

London Photographic Association Awards 2004

The London Photographic Association is a creative organisation showcasing commercial and fine art photography portfolios. One of their yearly activities is to run photography competitions throughout the year covering the various genres of the medium.

In 2004 Astrid was chosen to be the Bronze Award winner for the category 'Beauty and Form' with her series ‘Food Keeps Body & Soul Together’

Journey to Scotland 2004

It was not the Scottish landscape that attracted Astrid to visit Dumfriesshire, it was a Tibetan Monastery, hidden in the middle of nowhere, on the rainiest spot in the UK. Kagyu Sanye Ling was founded in 1967, its name means ‘place beyond imagination’. Through Dr Akong Tulku Rinpoche’s (co-founder) vision and guidance, a magnificent temple in traditional Tibetan design was erected and opened its door in 1988. The temple and most other buildings, which followed were build entirely by volunteers and funded through donations. Today the monastery is a flourishing centre preserving Tibetan Buddhism, arts, medicine and culture. Buddhist teachings of highest standards, weekend courses, retreats and special events are held throughout the year. Kagyu Samye Ling is constantly growing and the building work is still ongoing. Yet it is an oasis of peace and wisdom, aiming to benefit all beings far beyond the area where it is placed.

Image archive for Kagyu Samye Ling, Monastery
Image archive for Kagyu Samye Ling, Artwork
Image archive for Kagyu Samye Ling, People and Work