ECKART BARTNIK
ABOUT
EB works as a cell and molecular biologist in basic research for drug development. For him, photography was initially a scientific tool, which gradually developed into an essential means of artistic expression for him.
Numerous workshops with renowned photographers shaped his visual language.
Since the 1980s, his work has been shown internationally in group and solo exhibitions and published in daily newspapers such as the FAZ, magazines and trade journals (e.g. Stern, Wings) and online (including Spiegel-Online, The Guardian).
Eckart Bartnik lives in Wiesbaden, Germany.
The photographer and scientist Eckart Bartnik, born 1957 in Bonn, lives in Wiesbaden and worked in biological research. For almost five decades, analog and digital photography are his means of artistic expression.
Numerous workshops with renowned photographers such as Bruce Barnbaum, Wolfgang Zurborn, Markus Schaden, Thekla Ehling, Olaf Otto Becker, Ann Mandelbaum, Göran Gnaudschun and Torben Eskerod influenced his visual language.
Since the 1980s, his work is shown internationally in group and solo exhibitions and published in daily newspapers, magazines, trade journals and online.
Photography
Eckart Bartnik heads for the abstraction of nature. He exploits the resulting insights for his artistic work to reflect on the conflicting relationship between humans and nature.
As a scientist, he grasped his research subjects with a rational mind – as a photographer, he does it subjectively aiming for a deeper understanding of nature. He immerses himself in landscapes, and photographs people and objects in dialogue with their surroundings. He explores the friction between harmonious and repulsive views and is fascinated by the moods and myths and the cultural heritage associated with a landscape, an object, or a place.
"To pay attention is to live, and to live is to pay attention; and, bear in mind most of all, that your spiritual nature is but a higher faculty of seeing and listening- -a finer, nobler way of paying attention."
Louis Sullivan, architect, cited by Stephen Shote in Modern Instances
Publications
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 - 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
The Guardian online: "Gumball-obsession - Balls of fun!" (Sept. 19) - see link in NEWS
2017
Spiegel online: "Kaugummiautomaten: Indikator für vernachlässigte Orte" (Sept. 21) - see link in NEWS
2017
GUP Magazine online: "Disenchantment" (Nov. 11)
2014
Lichtblick School, Cologne: Theatre of Real Life #6: "Verzahnung"
Awards - Achievements
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
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"
Solo exhibitions
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"
2016
Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbH, Frankfurt: "Research – face to face"
2014
Ortho-Zentrum, Karlsruhe: "Grenzflächen"
1982
Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-University, Bonn: Audiovisual: "Australia and New Zealand"
Collections
Merck KGaA, Darmstadt - Sanofi Aventis Deutschland GmbH, Frankfurt - Visiopharm, Horsholm, Denmark