ABOUT
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.
Artist statement: Abstraction and reflection
Currently, I am captivated by two photographic themes: abstraction, which involves the expressionist transformation of nature, and the reflection of diverse life-worlds with their disruptions, contrasts, and ambiguities.
By abstracting nature, I transcend the obvious and create new expressionist worlds of imagery through colors, structures, and surfaces. I draw upon subjects from both the microcosm and macrocosm, whose complexity hints at the multidimensional spheres of my expressionist visual worlds. The resulting emotional condensations transport viewers into surreal landscapes of the subconscious.
The second focus of my work, under the title "Reflection," explores the complex relationships between people, objects, and environments. Through various series, it highlights their contradictions, tensions, and ambiguities. Some positions also delve into the narratives and myths that people have been telling about their surroundings for centuries.
With both themes, I open up a world where the visible and invisible merge. I seek a deep, instinctive connection to nature and our place within it, questioning both. Abstraction and reflection become an area of tension.
"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
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 - 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)
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
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