History of origin:
During a hike on the Hiwweltour near Zornheim, on a clear March day, I found myself at the striking Selztalstellung - a particularly steep section where the landscape is structured in a characteristic way. Between the carefully planted vineyards are green areas with scattered fruit trees. What fascinated me at that moment was the way one of these trees seemed to detach itself from the ground. Its bare branches stretched towards the sky as if they were already absorbing the energy of the approaching spring, even though there were still no leaves to be seen. In this tense stillness between winter and awakening, I discovered a powerful metaphor for transformation.

Description:
With “Touching the Sky” I visualize the invisible dialogue between earth and sky. Using the technique of Intentional Camera Movement, I have created a radial movement that releases the tree from its static existence and places it in a dynamic state of expansion. The branches literally explode in all directions of space, as if they were reaching for the light.

The monochrome realization reinforces the contrast between the dark, earthy trunk and the increasingly delicate branches, which finally dissolve into the white sky. This reduction to black and white makes it possible to emphasize the energetic structure of the tree - its inner strength becomes visible, which otherwise remains hidden behind the outer form.

Special features:
What makes this work special is the transformation of a moment of waiting into a moment of activity. The tree no longer appears as a passive element in the landscape, but as a powerful actor that dynamically shapes its space. The motion blur creates a vibration in the picture that allows the viewer to sense the pulsating life that is already active beneath the seemingly lifeless winter surface.

The visual explosion outwards symbolizes the potential that lies in every moment of transition - a silent metamorphosis that manifests itself precisely in this season between winter and spring. The painting invites the viewer to experience this process of becoming and to reflect on their own connection between earthiness and a longing for heaven.

Connection to the exhibition:
“Touching the Sky” embodies an essential aspect of the exhibition ‘Metamorphoses of Silence’: it shows how quiet moments in nature possess a hidden dynamic and energy. The work is an exciting complement to the other vineyard photographs - while these often show horizontal structures and expansive perspectives, this picture focuses on the vertical connection between earth and sky, between materiality and immateriality.

Reference to Rheinhessen:
The photo was taken at a characteristic location in the Rhine-Hessian cultural landscape - the Selztalstellung near Zornheim, one of the highest points in the region with a spectacular view over the Selztal valley. This striking geological formation is not only a popular point on the Hiwweltour (the regional hiking trail), but also an example of the typical mixed use in the Rhine-Hessian landscape. Here, individual fruit trees are scattered between the vineyards - not a closed plantation, but a natural-looking integration of different elements. This well thought-out structuring of the landscape, in which viticulture and individual fruit trees exist in harmony, is a defining feature of Rheinhessen and testifies to the centuries-old tradition of a diverse cultural landscape.