The Esther Woerdehoff gallery is pleased to present an exhibition of Ursula Kraft and Michael Schnabel's recent works. The opening reception will be held on Wednesday, March 21, 2012. The artists will be present.

Michael Schnabel

In the series "Still Berge", Michael Schnabel photographs the Alps like gigantic, eternal monuments, lost in a quiet night. The night made it possible to see the other side, the mountain emptied of its tourist activity, phenomenon so insignificant on the geological scale but still dangerous for a fragile balance.
The wild and untouched nature no longer exists, but one is just starting to discern a part of it…

"Stille Berge :
Photographing the Alps in my own vision was a creative process that developed over years. One day - or night rather - it clicked. Under the dark skies I found the tranquility that the Alps of today lack during the day. The night and its silence gives the mountains a sublimity, feeling of raw creation and aloofness that I strived to capture in my work.
Exposure times were about an hour; a sharp contrast to the city images which required only a few minutes.
Focusing and even framing the image through the ground glass was another issue, as there was precious little to see under the low light conditions. The contributed to the fact that many of the exposures didn't make the final selection." Michael Schnabel


"White Land :
In these still native landscapes I found tranquility, not only at night, but also during the day, which enable me to work during the day. The vastness and pureness can be felt. A personal image of these impressive natural spaces. Again, I am trying to fathom the border between photography and painting or other works on paper, which is if at all only noticeable in the original." Michael Schnabel