The German artist Sonja Braas (born in 1968), living in New York, concentrates on the representation of nature.
In her series “Forces” is not photographied sweet and pleasing nature but its violent and destructive powers after all. Roaring water-cases, spray foamy water-masses, down-falling ice-scraps, eroding rocks determine the large-sized pictures. At close range the powerful-exalted scenes are photographed almost as if the camera had been placed right in the middle of them. So Sonja Braas succeeds a visiblity and nearly an audiblity of the strength and energy of these unrestrained dramas of nature.
But how is this nature real and authentic? Subtle hints and unreal light-effects show that parts of the pictures are simulated. In “Forces” the energies of not only the “pure” nature take effect but also of a hyper-reality, an artistically increased nature.

biography
1968 born in Siegen, Germany
1991 studies Visuelle Kommunikation, Foto-Filmdesign at the Fachhochschule Dortmund
1992/1993 Parson School of Design, New York
1995/1996 studies in fotography at the School of Visual Arts, New York (Fulbright-scholarship)
1997 diploma
lives and works in Deutschland and New York