CV
Eckart Bartnik was born in Bonn in 1957 and lives and works in Wiesbaden. He is a photographer with a background in natural sciences and has many years of experience in biological research.
He has been working with analogue and digital photography since the early 1980s. His work has been shown internationally in solo and group exhibitions and published in newspapers, magazines and specialist publications. In 2025, he was nominated for the Prix Pictet. He is a member of the German Photographic Society (DGPh).
Two poles define Bartnik's photographic work: abstraction and reflection. In his abstract works, he dissolves nature into colour, structure and surface, condensing and shifting it to the limits of recognisability. Micro and macro meet on the level of form, not meaning.
Under the title ‘Reflection,’ the focus shifts to the relationship between people, objects and their surroundings. The series reveal breaks, contradictions and overlaps between history, myth and the present. It is not about explanation, but about something in between.
“I’m interested in the moment when the familiar shifts and a slower way of looking replaces quick recognition, allowing me to encounter the world’s complexity rather than explain it.”
Publications
2025
Storm, Prix Pictet, Hatje Cantz, pages 62 and 63: "Wrenched railroad tracks" from "FLOOD"
2025
ARTDOC Photography Magazine Issue #2/25 - Interview: "Alien elements as abstract symbols"
2024
"Zwischen Wurzel und Wipfel – Fragmente aus dem Netzwerk Wald", catalogue, Walkmühle, Wiesbaden
2023
ARTDOC Photography Magazine #4/23 on "Shapes and colours" with "Ice sculptures"
2023
Talk "Scientific observation and photographic reflection" given for Förderverein Darmstädter Tage der Fotografie (April 18)
2023
Featured in article "Crisis? What crisis?" by Keith Wilson in Amateur Photographer UK (February 7)
2022
Contribution to "The Evidence Project" by Britta Jaschinsky and Keith Wilson, Photographers against Wildlife Crime—see link in NEWS
2022
1730Sat1live: Fotos aus dem Ahrtal auf den Wiesbadener Fototagen (August 24) - see link in NEWS
2022
Hessenschau: Wiesbadener Fototage zeigen Bildgewalt der Verwüstung (August 11) - see link in NEWS
2022
FAZ: "Zeugnisse einer Katastrophe" (Testimonies of a catastrophe) (July 14) - see link in NEWS
2022
Kwerfeldein: "Fotografisches Wachstum in Vielfalt" (April 19) PDF with english translation - see link in NEWS
2021
ARTDOC Photography Magazine: Special Inspiration Page: "FLOOD" (Oct. 18)
2021
LifeForceMagazine: "Flood Remains" (Autumn 2021 issue)
2019
FAZ: "Hütet euch vor der Anderswelt" (Beware of the otherworld) - "Alfar Rokk" (March 7) - see link in NEWS
2019
Aint-Bad: What We’ve Found: "Spirituality in Suburbia" (Sept. 2)
2018
Wings magazin: "Gummiglück" (Jan.-Feb.)
2017
Spiegel online: "Kaugummiautomaten: Indikator für vernachlässigte Orte" (Sept. 21) - see link in NEWS
2017
The Guardian online: "Gumball-obsession - Balls of fun!" (Sept. 19) - see link in NEWS
2017
GUP Magazine online: "Disenchantment" (Nov. 11)
2014
Lichtblick School, Cologne: Theatre of Real Life #6: "Verzahnung"
2013
FAZ: Ein konkurrenzloses Archiv des Lebens - Naturhistorische Sammlung des Museums Wiesbaden (Sept. 4)
2013
Lichtblick School, Cologne #5: "WesterWorld"
1982
Stern: Neuseeland
Awards - Achievements
2024
Prix Pictet Nomination for "FLOOD"
2024
Artistic achievement at the Luxembourg Art Prize for "Landscapes of the Unconscious"
2024
Fine Art Photography Awards: Nominee in the Abstract category with "CYTO-GALAXIES"
2022
Kolga Tbilisi Photo Festival, Georgia: "FLOOD-SCULPTURES" shortlisted
2022
Portfolio Walk, Deutsche Fotografische Akademie: "FLOOD-SCULPTURES"
2022
Athens Photo Festival: "FLOOD-SCULPTURES" shortlisted
2021
Appointment to the German Photographic Society (DGPh)
2020
Finalist Portfolio Walk, Deutsche Fotografische Akademie: "AM FLUSS"
2019
Minimalist Photography Award: Landscape Photographer of The Year, 1st place winner with "ELVEN ROCKS"
2013
Kolga Tbilisi Photo Festival, Georgia: "WesterWorld" shortlisted
2012
Deutsche Fotografische Akademie, Deichtorhallen Hamburg: Portfolio-Walk; "WesterWorld"
1980
British Council: Photo Award 1st place
Group exhibitions
2025
Art Center Dreieich: "Sichtbar:Unsichtbar" mit "RESONANZEN"
2024
Fotografie Forum Frankfurt: "Passionately": "Flut"
2024
Künstlerverein Walkmühle, Wiesbaden: "Zwischen Wurzel und Wipfel": "Schicksalsgemeinschaft"
2024
ARTDOC exhibition: "Creative photography": "CYTO-GALAXIES"
2023
Künstlerverein Walkmühle, Wiesbaden: "Die Kunst zu Schenken": "CYTO-GALAXIES and ICE SCULPTURES"
2022
The Center for Fine Art Photography, Fort Collins, USA, online exhibition of "FLOOD".
2022
Helsinki Photo Festival "Believe": "Relicts" - 07.07-2.10.2022
2022
Wiesbadener Fototage "Turbulent Times": "Flut" - 13.08.-28.08.2022
2019
Galerie Ka:Ost, Frankfurt: "Simple Nature": "Im Tal"
2018
Galerie Ka:Ost, Frankfurt: Luminale: "Who am I really?"
2018
Fotografie Forum Frankfurt: FFF Academy: "Am Fluss"
2018
Galerie Ka:Ost, Frankfurt: "Leidenschaft": "Disenchantment"
2017
Wiesbadener Fototage "Insight": "Ambivalence - Topography of faith"
2015
Wiesbadener Fototage "Heimat X": "WesterWorld – Heimat aber wie?"
2014
Kolga Tbilisi Photo Festival, Georgia: "WesterWorld"
2011
Galerie Fotoristisch. Wiesbaden: "Iceland"
1988
Rockefeller University, New York: "City Views"
Solo exhibitions
2025
"TONGRUBEN" in der Ausstellung "GRAU-BLAU-GERITZT", Stadtmuseum Wiesbaden
2021
13.11.21-29.01.2022: Galerie Alles Mögliche, Berlin: "FLUT - Von der Gewalt der Gewässer"
2020
art@hub of Industrie- und Handelskammer (IHK), Darmstadt: "Divergenz"
2019
Visiopharm, Horsholm, Denmark: , "Alfar Rokk"
2016
Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH, Frankfurt: "Research – face to face"
2014
Ortho-Zentrum, Karlsruhe: "Grenzflächen"
2009
Visiopharm, Horsholm, Denmark: "Abstract"
1982
Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-University, Bonn: Audiovisual: "Australia and New Zealand"
Collections
Merck KGaA, Darmstadt - Sanofi Aventis Deutschland GmbH, Frankfurt - Visiopharm, Horsholm, Denmark