RE-ENCHANTMENT or WIEDERVERZAUBERUNG

"Forest and sea are opposed spaces: In one you lose sight of the horizon, in the other it is often your only orientation. In the photo series Re-enchantment, an extended follow-up of my project Amongst Giants, I am interested in the interdependence between these two spaces. I chose the unspoiled coastal forest directly on the cliffs near the Baltic seaside resort of Nienhagen. The salty, humid sea air and wind are tough on the oaks, beeches, hornbeams and ash trees, which are up to 170 years old. Many of the deciduous trees, especially the beeches, have trunks and crowns that often appear twisted or snake-like due to years of exposure. With their grotesque shapes, they create a mysterious, "ghostly" atmosphere that is emphasized by twilight, fog and wind. Therfore the name: Ghost or haunted forest. In the stillness of dusk, the experience of nature can provide solace beyond earthly life. What I project from my inner eye onto the photos is often melancholic and reminds me of the magical beauty and sombre melancholy in the Romantic paintings of Caspar David Friedrich and the silhouettes of his friend Philipp Otto Runge. According to their motto: Recognize instead of depict."