My name is Katrin Sandmann-Henkel. I work and live in Minden and have been creating art for nearly 20 years. For a long time, I mainly focused on different styles of painting but discovered my passion for photography in 2008.

My first project was the “Vogelparadies (Bird’s Paradise),” a small nature reserve in Porta Westfalica, 2010/11. My work there resulted in the publishing of the picture book “Blick ins Paradies (Look into paradies)” in 2014 and showed nature in its purest form.

The years 2011 – 2018 were dominated by the so-called “Lost Places.” I traveled through Germany, Poland, and Belgium to document abandoned churches, factories, villas, and more. These places show what has been and will be. They are a window in the past but also forecast how many places that are filled with life now will look in the foreseeable future. I was able to showcase my “Lost Places” during several exhibitions.

2017 had a unique project for me in check. On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the “Verein für aktuelle Kunst” in Minden, I shot 43 artists in their workshops. The images were published in the image book “KUNST-SZENE-ATELIER” later that year.

My most recent endeavors have brought me into the major cities of Europe. I am still interested in architecture, but this time, my art focuses on landmarks, modern facades, and skyscrapers. Through multiple exposures, I create images that will spark your imagination and curiosity.

My philosophy is all about the picture itself and less about the editing. My photographs are created when I press the shutter button, not in photoshop. For a picture to be impactful, it has to reach more than just the eyes, but activate your entire consciousness. It is especially crucial for my multi exposure pictures that I can swiftly translate the idea in my head into an actual image. I like to get inspired by other photographers, but never copy and instead use their art to expand my point of view to create something new.