The genesis of an artistic journey
Felix Schoeppner‘s path to becoming one of Germany’s most meticulous conceptual photographers began unexpectedly. With a borrowed camera in hand, he captured skateboarding—a hobby that quickly became a passion for photography. Schoeppner, who grew up near Frankfurt surrounded by the influence of museums and architecture, found himself diverging from family traditions of architectural design. A Nikon D40, with its humble 6-megapixel sensor, sparked his intrigue and led him to study Communication Design at the University of Applied Sciences in Darmstadt.
Under the mentorship of photographers like Olaf Blecker and Michael Schnabel, Schoeppner honed skills in lighting and precision. However, it wasn’t until a personal upheaval in 2017, involving a breakup and a cancer diagnosis that required months of surgery and chemotherapy, that his artistic direction took a transformative turn. The experience left him introspective, ushering in a newfound appreciation for still life photography.
A shift in artistic vision
After recovering, Schoeppner attended a workshop at RAY Fotografieprojekte Frankfurt.RheinMain led by the Finnish-American photographer Arno Rafael Minkkinen. Minkkinen’s approach emphasized bodily engagement and intuition, posing a stark contrast to Schoeppner’s previous methods. This inspired a pivotal shift towards a more personal and conceptually nuanced form of still life.
Schoeppner’s series “Cognition,” highlighted in the Bauhaus centenary exhibition “Bauhaus und die Fotografie,” utilized everyday materials and familiar objects, challenging viewers’ perceptions and placing his work firmly in the spotlight. This series conveyed intricate themes with objects like billiard balls arranged to resemble a solar system, taking up to three days to perfect a single image. The complexity of his work invokes both awe and contemplative thought.
Development of the “Handle with Care” project
Currently pursuing a Master’s in Visual Communication at Bauhaus University in Weimar, Schoeppner’s graduation project “Handle with Care” delves into labor, automation, and ingenious avoidance. He begins conceptually, letting ideas organically evolve through experimentation and studio work. For Schoeppner, the studio morphs into a workshop where creativity is not a lofty ideal but a process grounded in physical construction and adjustment.
Technical expertise in lighting and model building has allowed Schoeppner to render the everyday extraordinary. His constructions, using materials like chipboard and aluminum, blur the line between the photographed and the tangible, leaving intentional traces of their making.
Technical mastery married with conceptual depth
Schoeppner meticulously maps out his photographic process from concept to completion. With “Handle with Care,” the constructions withstand stress and exist autonomously beyond the photograph. He moves between precision and intentional imperfection to evoke a constructed environment that feels simultaneously familiar and otherworldly.
The process includes using chipboard—a material common in industrial furniture—for its familiarity, alongside aluminum profiles that echo engineering settings. Lighting emerges organically from the scene, reinforcing the constructed narrative of the artwork. His camera records decisions already made, capturing the sculptural quality and the result of a thoughtful sequence of planning and execution.
Philosophical reflections and the future of work
“Handle with Care” explores how voluntary distancing from labor, through technological means, shapes human experiences of work. The project reflects on human ingenuity in creating systems that simplify or completely transform labor dynamics. Schoeppner’s work challenges our engagement with daily tasks, ultimately questioning the nature of effort and reward.
In each piece, Schoeppner invites viewers to contemplate the layers of perception, recognition, and abstraction. Through familiar materials manipulated to defy conventional usage, he crafts visual experiences that engage our collective understanding while exposing the beauty in complexity and the art of careful deliberation.
Source: creativeboom.com