FORMAT Photography Festival: Latitude - Status Update, 04.03 – 03.04.11

‘Status Update’ is a new project by Latitude Photographers, a photo collective from London. Latitude has engaged their Facebook friends to share creative images in response to the festivals theme 'Right Here Right Now’.

The conclusion of this project will be presented as a slide-show at the International Photography Festival FORMAT 11. The work is envisaged as being a large screen projection within a gallery space – ‘updating the status’ from a Facebook exchange to gallery artwork.

Venue: Mob FORMAT HQ, 44 Sadler Gate, Little Chester, Derby DE1 3NQ
Dates: 4th March - 3rd April
Opening times: 10:00 - 17:30

Astrid’s submission is the triptych ‘White Lies Kill’ (shown above), which is taken from a body of work called ‘Death in Arles’. The series is dealing with the break-up of a relationships and it’s consequences – right here, right now.

‘Over the Hill’: A Photographic Journey, 01.02 – 27.02.11

This group show is in fact a photographic digital installation, instigated by Tim Andrews, who suffers of Parkinson's disease. He had the urge to be seen through the eyes of over 100 photographers since the onset of his illness. The result is a stunning collection of images, full of surprises.

The impressive list of photographers includes Rankin, Harry Borden, Vanessa Winship, Jillian Edelstein, Karen Knorr, Steve Bloom, Graeme Montgomery, Alex Sandwell Kliszynski, Michele Turriani and many more…

Astrid’s contribution to this fascinating compilation is the image 'Wanted: Tim Andrews', which is playing with Tim's love for acting, cinema visits and his childhood dream of becoming a cowboy...

Venue: The Lightbox, Chobham Road, Woking,
Surrey, GU21 4AA (free entry, donations welcome)

Opening times: Tuesday to Saturday: 10.30am - 5.00pm
Sunday: 11.00am - 5.00pm (Mondays are closed)

Links and directions to The Impact Art Fait and Candid Arts Trust

Please also read Tim’s blog about the project Over The Hill

'Food Keeps Body & Soul Together', 15.12 - 12.01.11

All festivals have come to an end now, however, in case you missed the previous shows, here is one more opportunity...

As a result of the Brighton Photo Fringe the images from Astrid’s food series have been invited to beautify Taylor St Baristas, one of Brighton’s most famous coffee shops. Its location at 28 Queens Road, the street which leads from the station down to the sea - perfect for a visit.

Opening times: Monday to Friday 7.30am - 5.30pm, Saturday 8am - 5.30pm and Sunday 10am – 5pm

If you would like to see the images, please click here.

‘fLIP Magazine no17’, November Issue 2010

fLIP is an independent magazine, which is published three times per year by the London Independent Photographers (LIP). The magazine is the official voice of LIP, which has over 600 members and it aims to support, inspire and inform its readers by featuring members' photographic work with articles that are engaging and entertaining.

The latest issue, no 17 with the title 'Movement', is featuring an article about Astrid's work 'Food keeps Body & Soul together'. The article was a response from both Astrid's involvement at the LIP members show as well as her 2 recent solo exhibitions.

The magazine is available at various stockists across London, including the Tate Modern Bookshop, National Portrait, Serpentine Gallery Bookshop, Whitechapel Gallery Bookshop and many more. If you wish to read the article, please visit www.astridschulz.com/flip-fkbst/.

REMINDER: 'Food Keeps Body & Soul Together', 28.10 - 14.11.10

The exhibition 'Food Keeps Body & Soul Together'
is currently part of London PHOTOMONTH festival (October 2010) and at the BRIGHTON PHOTO FRINGE (November 2010).

After a great opening party at London's Shipton Street Gallery, Astrid is now preparing for the second show at Brighton Media Centre, 15 -17 Middle Street, Brighton BN1 1AL

Opening times: 28.10.10 - 14.11.10, Mondays – Fridays, 9.30 – 5.30 & weekends, 10.30 – 5.30

Opening party:
Saturday, 30.10.10, 5.30pm - midnight
The opening event takes place during Brighton's forthcoming ‘White Night Festival', an all-night public artwork event.

This an ongoing series of portraits is bringing together Astrid’s passion for food and her previous career as a costume designer. Before each image concept was developed, most of the sitters were asked about their favourite meals. In other pictures the edible item is telling the viewer something about the sitter’s pastime. The resulting images are humorous, bold and distinctive.

The title of the show is inspired by Astrid’s grandmother Liese-Lotte Buck, who sadly died in 2009. ‘Eat, everybody, food keeps body and soul together!’ - this is what she used to say before a family meal. The exhibitions are held her memory.

In 2004 the series won the London Photographic Bronze Award in the category 'Beauty and Form'.

Click here for an image preview.

‘London Independent Photography’s 22nd Annual Exhibition’: 19 - 31.10.10

Astrid is very proud to announce that three of her images have been selected for the LIP members show.

The LIP Annual Exhibition aims to provide a platform for members to exhibit their best work, to be viewed by each other and the general public. This time the selection process was conducted by individual professionals (Lucinda Chua from The Strand Gallery and Paul Ellis from Photofusion), who are connected to London's photographic community.

Venue: The Strand Gallery (Proud Central)
32 John Adam Street, London WC2N 6BP
Showtime: 19.10.10 - 31.10.10

The Members Private View takes place on 19th October 2010 (6pm - 9.30pm)

The Strand Gallery, a branch of the Proud Galleries, is part of Europe’s most popular private photographic exhibition venues. Its location is just a stone's throw from Trafalgar Square and easily accessible from both Charing Cross and Embankment Stations.

One of the chosen images is from the series ‘Holi’ (seen above). It was taken during the Holi festival in 2010 at the Hare Krishna temple in Hertfortshire, UK. Roopen, the young man in the picture, was one out of many Hindu worshipers, who came into Astrid’s makeshift studio during the festival to have his portrait taken.

'Food Keeps Body & Soul Together', 01.10 - 24.10 and 28.10 - 14.11.10

Astrid is currently in pre-production with her next exhibitions, which are showcasing portraits from her colourful series 'Food Keeps Body & Soul Together'. The images will go on show twice: as part of London PHOTOMONTH festival (October 2010) and at the BRIGHTON PHOTO FRINGE (November 2010).

The first show are held at Shipton Street Gallery
Shipton Street, London E2 7RZ
Showtime: 01.10.10 - 24.10.10

Opening party:
Friday, 01.10.10, 6.30pm - 9pm

Food keeps Body & Soul together is an ongoing project, which is bringing together Astrid’s passion for food and her previous career as a costume designer. Before each image concept was developed, most of the sitters were asked about their favourite meals. In other pictures the edible item is telling the viewer something about the sitter’s pastime. The resulting images are humorous, bold and distinctive.

The title of the show is inspired by Astrid’s grandmother Liese-Lotte Buck, who sadly died in 2009. ‘Eat, everybody, food keeps body and soul together!’ - this is what she used to say before a family meal. The exhibitions are held her memory.

‘Something Beautiful’, a Total Image Nation Show from 07.06 – 19.06.10

Another image from Astrid’s series ‘Life after Death’ has been selected for a group show in Cambridge. Total Image Nation (TIN) is a collective and online resource for photographers across the UK. TIN is holding this inspiring exhibition at Michaelhouse Centre, a unique exhibition space inside St Michael’s Church in the city centre.

Opening party: Thursday, 10.06.10, 7pm - 9pm

Venue: Michaelhouse Centre, Trinity Street, Cambridge CB2 1SU

Open: Mondays - Saturdays, 8am - 5pm

Venue information: www.michaelhouse.org.uk
And information about Total Image Nation:
www.total-image-nation.co.uk

Journey to Serbia and Montenegro, April 2010

A new task is waiting to be explored: the exiting shift from still images into moving images.

Astrid was invited to a road trip from Serbia to Montenegro in order to document the countries current development. Both countries have been through rapid changes in the last 30 years: from Tito’s Yugoslavia and socialism to economical decline under Milosevic; from a brutal cycle of war to separation into 6 republics. Many things have progressed within the last 10 years; economy is slowly recovering and the two countries are looking towards the European Union. They are also trying to get themselves back on the map for sought-after tourist destinations.

With plenty of stills and film material Astrid is now working on a documentary project about this journey. Watch this space for further announcements on the completed movie…

‘Mindsoup 2010’ Mixed-Media Group Show from 08.04 – 29.05.10

Gallery320 will be presenting it's annual talent showcase MINDSOUP and is inviting artists to bring a piece of work, which will be hung at the gallery as part of an exciting mixed-media group show.
Unlike most Private Views, we are inviting the artist to bring their work on the evening and we will be gradually seeing the exhibition grow before our eyes.

Opening party: Wednesday, 07.04.10, 6.30pm - 9pm
Venue: Gallery320
320 Bethnal Green Road (entrance via Voss Street), Bethnal Green, London E2 0AG

Viewing times and information about the gallery: www.gallery320.co.uk


This time Astrid is bringing an image of her series ‘Life after Death’, which was created in memory of her mother in the attempt of understanding her taxidermy collection.

‘Open Salon 2010’ Group Show from 25.02 – 14.03.2010

For the third time, London's Viewfinder Photography Gallery is turning its walls over to the public for an exhibition. The Greenwich based gallery will present the opportunity for hundreds of diverse photographs to be shown.

Opening party: Thursday, 25.02.10, 7pm - 9pm

Venue: Viewfinder Photography Gallery
Showcase: 8 College Approach, Greenwich,
London SE10 9HY

Curator Louise Forrester said: "The Open Salons 2006 and 2008 were very exciting. This is a great opportunity for local photographers to show their work, and also for the gallery to raise funds to support future exhibitions."

Astrid’s contribution to the show is an image called 'Shoes of the Witch', which shows a costume item from her previous career as a costume designer.

Viewing times and information about the gallery: www.viewfinder.org.uk

‘Paper Jam’ Group Show from 11.01 – 29.01.2010

Paper Jam is an art exhibition by four different artists. The show is a celebration of the subversive power of drawing, pushing drawing into space and the realm of ideas.

Opening party: Monday, 11.01.10, 6pm - 9pm
Venue: The Gallery, 1st floor, Goldsmiths College, Students’ Union, Dixon Road, New Cross, London SE14 6NW

In conversation: Thursday, 28.01.10, 7pm - 8pm
Join us for a discussion between the featured artists and curator as well as a solo performance by Ana Cavic.

Participating artist:
Sandra Erbacher (curator): www.sandraerbacher.com
Ines Rebelo: www.axisweb.org/seCVPG.aspx?ARTISTID=12673
Ana Cavic & Renee O’Drobinak: www.ladiesofthepress.org
Astrid Schulz:
www.astridschulz.com

Astrid Schulz displays two images of her award winning Car Park series: they show fragments of or imprints left by cars frozen in the total silence of snow and hover at once between romanticism and apocalypse, abstraction and representation. An imprint of the bonnet of a car left in the snow is juxtaposed with a black car door that has been freed from and at the same time is framed by a blanket of snow; the photographs shown imbue seemingly mundane objects with an ethereal, epic quality, while entering into direct dialogue with the process-based nature of drawing using as its starting point and central component the abstract mark left on a ground.

'Car Park: under cover' Event: Candle Vigil for Copenhagen

Astrid Schulz would like to invite you on Saturday, 12 December, 3-4pm!

Astrid is organizing a candlelight vigil at her exhibition at Viewfinder Photography Gallery as part of a huge international day of action on climate change. We need a bunch of people to make it work. It’s going to be fun, short and super easy.

Events like this are happening simultaneously in every corner of the world just as our leaders gather in Copenhagen for the most important climate negotiations of our time. The message is: The World Wants A Real Deal - a treaty strong enough to tackle climate change and the destruction of the planet.

Come and join us! Bring a candle and something to share (cookies, cake etc.), Astrid will serve tea. This is also a great opportunity to see Astrid's 'Car Park: under cover' exhibition, if you have not been already...

Check out the event and RSVP here
If you can't make it to this event, check out this map showing events across the world
We hope to see you there to make a difference.

‘Car Park: under cover’ Exhibition from 26.11 - 20.12.2009

The award winning series ‘Car Park’ is currently exhibited as a solo show for the second time.

Opening party: Friday, 27.11.09, 6.30pm - 8.30pm
Venue: Viewfinder Photography Gallery
Linear House, Peyton Place,
Greenwich, London SE10 8RS

'Car Park: under cover' is part of Photomonth, the UK's largest photography festival. The exhibition coincides with the ‘United Nations Climate Conference’ in Copenhagen, 7-18 December 2009.
Astrid Schulz will be present at the gallery during weekends from 12 to 4pm. She is also going to have a talk about the images (Wed 16 Dec, 7-9pm) and is discussing the problems of ‘photographing whiteness’ during a workshop on 6th Dec, 2-5pm (ticket price £5, for booking information please get in touch with Viewfinder Gallery).

About the images: Astrid had a very special experience on New Year’s Eve 2006. A sudden change of weather turned her journey upside down, but also lead to the mesmerizing images in her ‘Car Park’ series. Her images shall remind us in the unpredictability of life. There is an underlining message about the threat of recent climate changes and how little we know about protecting ourselves. Many people are not fully conscious about the meaning of the environmental problems, but in some countries drastic changes have already altered peoples lives often in tragic ways. The images in ‘Car Park’ are a silent reminder to think about the way we take our comfortable lives for granted, but nothing lasts forever…

Viewing times and information about the gallery: www.viewfinder.org.uk

‘Salon 09’ Group Show from 30.10 - 06.12.2009

Salon 09 is an annual exhibition for members of the Four Corners Photo-Imaging Network (PIN) and features collectable photography from it’s members.

Opening times: Wednesday - Saturday, 1pm - 6pm
Preview: 6.30-8.30pm on Thursday 29th October 2009

Astrid contribution to this exhibition is the image ‘Gluttony’ from the series ‘7 Deadly Sins‘: Imagine a magazine cover, assuming the church wishes to publish a modern glossy magazine, describing all aspects of a sinful life...

This exhibition is part of Photomonth 09, East London’s annual photography festival, with more than 150 exhibitions and events in over 85 venues.

Four Corners’ gallery space has a long and celebrated track record as an exhibition venue.Their exhibition program aims to commission and exhibit up to four significant visual arts projects each year to a local, national and international audience. Four Corners provides a key platform for artists in the early stage of their careers, as well as more established artists, and a focus for East London’s diverse artistic community.

More info: www.fourcornersfilm.co.uk

‘Cows and the Earth’ Book publishing commission, August 2009

Astrid has finally completed her latest commission for a book publication by Fitzrovia Press, London. The book ‘Cows and the Earth’ is describing the benefits of vegetarian food for the future of the planet Earth. Vegetable based diets will contribute to minimization of animal cruelty and habitat destruction. The underlining message is back to natural and UK based farming. The book is describing a small farm in the heart of Herefordshire at the Bhaktivedanta Manor Krishna Temple. The farm is running a cow protection centre and, that agricultural land can be farmed by ox power and milk cam be produced without animal cruelty (usually caused by commercial methods like milking machines, indoor captivity or artificial fodder components).

Image archive for 'Cows and the Earth': www.astridschulz.com/cows

For information on the book please visit www.fitzroviapress.com

A second publication is on the way: a guidebook on the Hare Krishna temple near Watford, north of London, in connection with the International Society For Krishna Consciousness. The book is due for Spring 2010. For updated information watch this space.

For information about the Krishna temple please visit www.krishnatemple.com

‘Between Fiction & Desire’ Exhibition from 21.04 - 02.06.2009

A reminder from the past: Astrid Schulz, ex costume designer, proudly presents a joined exhibition with Mary Ellen Lamb, artist and make-up designer.
Astrid and Mary Ellen meet 12 years ago, whilst working on a movie production. They quickly established a bond and are now celebrating their friendship by showcasing their artistic work at London’s famous Leadenhall Market.
Most of Astrid’s personal work is still influenced by the world of film and TV productions. Her photographic portraits are often conceptual fiction and her sitters are encouraged to transform into imaginary characters.
Mary Ellen Lamb studied art at the prestigious Pratt Institute in New York before moving to London. She works as a professional make-up artist, but also creates dream landscapes, influenced by her American heritage and pop culture (www.maryellenlamb.com).

Opening party: Wednesday, 22.04.09, 6-8pm

Venue: Brokers Wine Bar & Restaurant, 9 Leadenhall Market, London, EC3V 1LR

How to get there: www.brokerswinebar.co.uk

‘Car Park’ Exhibition from 19.01 – 13.03.2009

The award winning series ‘Car Park’ is on show in Hove, Brighton (South East England).

Opening party: Friday, 23.01.09, 7-9pm

Venue: The Space @ Acumen
Acumen Business Group, Audley House
Hove Street, Hove, BN3 2DE

View by appointment: thespace@acumenbusinessgroup.com

On New Year’s Eve in 2006 Astrid had a very special experience. A sudden change of weather turned her journey upside down, but also lead to the mesmerizing images in her ‘Car Park’ series. Her images shall remind us in the unpredictability of life. There is an underlining message about the threat of recent climate changes and how little we know about protecting ourselves. Many people are not fully aware about the meaning of the environmental problems, but in some countries drastic changes have already altered peoples lives in often tragic ways. The images in ‘Car Park’ are a silent reminder to think about the way we take our comfortable lives for granted, but nothing lasts forever…

Journey to Cambodia 11 February - 23 March 2008

A project on French colonial and modernist 1960's architecture brought Astrid to Cambodia. The main focus was on Battambang, Cambodia’s third largest city, which still has a large number of colonial buildings in its centre. However, many are under tread to be modernised or even demolished.
A current building and foreign investment boom has raised awareness to save cultural heritage. Cambodia’s cities and towns are rather sleepy and don’t yet compete with other South - East Asian cities. On the other hand, the facades of local streets are adopting western characteristics such as large billboards, concrete and glass as building materials and rising floor levels.

The German Development Service (DED) is currently supporting the city of Battambang , which is working on a co-operational project on city planning and structural improvements. Inspired by the given information Astrid spend some additional time photographed buildings all over Cambodia and found them to be evidential of recent history.


Impermanent Utopia
(A Cambodian tale of constant change and instability)

What comes to mind when you think of Cambodia? Is it Angkor Wat’s ancient civilization or the Khmer Rouge as just another human made disaster, based on idealistic ideas? Interestingly enough we can never avoid finding silent signs of ‘long time gone’ stories. Weather or not we are able to understand them is another question. It may just be a heap of stones, a pile of rubble perhaps, telling us some facts. Is it the stones that are so interesting or is it the people who left them behind?

Image archive link: Kep - by the beach

Journey to Venice December 2007

Treviso Dormitory

There wasn’t much to do in Venice when I visited last year… It all started well on the day of arrival, although I only had one hour before the sun went down to get a glimpse of the city’s famous beauty.
Alas, the weather changed the following morning...

Image archive for Treviso Dormitory