History of origin:
During a morning walk with our dog through the vineyards of Rheinhessen, I was suddenly captivated by the sight of this particular row of vines. The vines were in their dormant phase - an essential moment in the annual cycle of viticulture, when everything is reduced to the essentials. What struck me at that moment was the palpable concentration of energy inside the vines. Although barren and withdrawn on the outside, the vital force that would unfold later in the year was already pulsating beneath the rough surface. This tension between outer calm and inner potency, between reduction and abundance, inspired me to create “Embracing the Vine” - a tribute to the hidden strength at the center of each vine.

Description:
In “Embracing the Vine” I tried to make the essential visible and to work out the graphic power of the vineyard structures. Using the technique of Intentional Camera Movement, I made a circular movement that directs the eye outwards from the center of the picture. This deliberate rotation during the shot creates a pull that transforms the rows of vines into graceful concentric lines and gives the vineyard a pulsating dynamic.

The monochrome realization emphasizes the graphic character of the composition and reinforces the contrast between the dark lines of the vines and the light surface of the ground. The black and white aesthetic reduces the scene to its elementary structures and leads to a meditative clarity. The bright path in the middle becomes the central axis around which everything revolves - symbolic of the life cycle of the vineyard itself.

Special features:
The uniqueness of this work lies in its special spatial dynamics. The radial movement creates concentric lines that not only draw the viewer's gaze to one point in the picture, but rather lead it into the depths of the vine line - to a vanishing point that lies beyond the recognizable. This composition creates an infinite pull that transcends the actual boundaries of the picture and suggests a vastness that goes beyond the physically visible.

The circular movement transforms the parallel rows of vines into dynamic curves that act like lines of energy and invite the viewer to mentally follow the path into the infinity of the vineyard. This opening into the boundlessness stands in fascinating contrast to the concentrated calm of the vines themselves and creates a tension between limitation and delimitation, between the concrete moment and timeless continuity.

The balance between abstraction and recognizability is also remarkable. The movement transforms the familiar view of the vineyard into a graphic pattern, but without losing the essence of the place. This tension between transformation and preservation reflects the annual rhythm of viticulture - that time of concentration and gathering before the energy unfolds outwards again.

Connection to the exhibition:
“Embracing the Vine” embodies a central aspect of the exhibition concept ‘Metamorphoses of Silence’. It shows how a powerful dynamic can be concealed in apparent calm - how stillness does not mean absence, but concentration. The work leads the viewer's gaze from the external structure of the vineyard to its innermost essence and invites us to reflect on the hidden forces at work in moments of calm and reflection.

In dialog with the other works in the exhibition, “Embracing the Vine” opens up another perspective on the metamorphoses of the Rhine-Hessian wine landscape. While other pictures direct the gaze into the distance or into detail, this work concentrates on the movement inwards and at the same time on the infinity of the visual axis - on those moments of collection and focus that are just as important for every creative process as the phases of expansion.

Reference to Rheinhessen:
The characteristic structure of the rows of vines is a defining element of the Rheinhessen cultural landscape. The mostly linear arrangement of the vines, which follows the terroir and topography, allows for efficient cultivation and optimal sunlight - an important factor in viticulture in general and therefore naturally also in Rheinhessen, where the vines benefit from plenty of light and a comparatively mild climate.

The resting phase depicted in “Embracing the Vine” is a time of reflection and planning for Rhine-Hessian winegrowers. After the harvest and the completion of the pressing work, a relative calm returns to the vineyard. However, this phase is by no means inactive - decisive processes take place both in the vineyard, where the vines gather strength, and in the wine cellar, where the young wines mature. This balance between active and reflective phases characterizes Rheinhessen viticulture and is reflected in the quality of its wines.

The image thus captures not only a visual structure, but also a philosophy - that patient attitude geared towards sustainability and quality that characterizes more and more Rheinhessen winegrowers and makes the region one of the most exciting winegrowing regions in Germany.