Sonja Braas

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.