History of origin:
On an early March morning, when a light mist still lay over the vineyards, a special scene revealed itself to me. The bare vines and their faithful companions, the stickels, drew a graphic pattern against the gentle horizon of Rheinhessen. What at first glance appeared to be a wintry landscape was in fact a moment of awakening - a silent dialog between sleep and becoming in the vineyard.

Description:
The artistic vision behind “Helpers at Work” captures the hidden dynamics in the apparent stillness. Using the technique of Intentional Camera Movement, I emphasized the vertical lines of the stakes, making them seem to grow out of the ground like a silent symphony. The deliberate movement of the camera during the shot transforms the static stakes into rhythmic impulses - like notes on a sheet of music that tell a story of time and patience.

The monochrome realization reinforces the graphic character and draws the eye to the structures and contrasts. The subtle play of light and shadow created by the dawn gives the picture its atmospheric depth. Although the wires on which the vines will later climb are not visible in the picture, the viewer is aware of their existence - an allusion to the invisible, which is nevertheless essential.

Special features:
The uniqueness of this work lies in its dual temporality: it not only shows a present moment, but also carries the promise of the coming year. The sticks - silent helpers in the vineyard - are a metaphor for the invisible work and support that often takes place in secret. They are witnesses to the cycle, waiting patiently for the development of the vines and the busy hands of the grape harvest.

The atmospheric quality of the picture conveys a meditative calm that invites the viewer to pause and reflect on what is hidden - on everything that we cannot see but whose presence we know and feel.

Connection to the exhibition:
„Helpers at Work“ verkörpert exemplarisch das Ausstellungskonzept „Metamorphosen der Stille“. Das Werk offenbart, wie in der reduzierten Formensprache der Schwarz-Weiß-Fotografie Stille nicht als Abwesenheit, sondern als Raum der Möglichkeit erfahrbar wird. Die scheinbar leblosen Strukturen bergen ein verborgenes Potenzial – eine stille Metamorphose, die sich im Laufe der Jahreszeiten entfalten wird.

Reference to Rheinhessen:
This photograph captures a characteristic element of the Rheinhessen wine-growing landscape: the stakes that give the vines support and structure. In Rheinhessen, one of the oldest and most traditional wine regions in Germany, both wooden and metal stakes are used, both of which are known by the regional term “Stickel”. They shape the characteristic appearance of the Rheinhessen vineyards during the dormant phase of winter and early spring. The gently rolling hills in the background are typical of the Rhine-Hessian plateau and demonstrate the harmonious integration of viticulture into the natural topography of the region - a cultural heritage that has been preserved and developed for centuries.