About Heidi & Hans - Jürgen Koch

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BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Heidi and Hans-Jürgen Koch approach their subjects with respect, taking portraits of the creatures in a sociological or even documentary context.

The two photographers are not satisfied with superficial aesthetics. They describe themselves not as wildlife photographers, but as “depicters of life forms.” Whether they are accompanying Mongolian nomads on camelback or moving among the eternal ice, the Kochs never completely exclude mankind from their work. Instead, human influence is always present, lurking beneath the surface in the photograph.

The series The White Bear focuses on polar bears, predators roaming in their natural territory. The black-and-white photos tell stories of the animal’s symbiotic relationship to its environment and of its indirect relationship to humans and our actions.

These artistic works are authentic and appropriate, showing the natural rhythms of living creatures and giving us a glimpse into their souls.

With their latest series, Heidi and Hans-Jürgen Koch turn their attention to a motif as delicate as it is symbolic: the feather. In carefully arranged tableaux, they reveal a striking diversity – from the monumental sweep of the ostrich wing to the shimmering fan of the peacock, from the luminous elegance of the flamingo to the near-invisible lightness of the snowy owl, from the clear contour of the goose to the iconic silhouette of the crowned crane. Though presented within a strict grid, each feather asserts its individuality, forming a fascinating spectrum – not only in shape and color but also in size, ranging from a filigree 4 centimeters to an impressive 71. Every feather carries the trace of a living being, at once ornament and sign – a symbol of protection and fragility, of flight and vulnerability.

At the same time, the feathers reflect the complex relationship between nature and culture: they are trophy and adornment, religious symbol and fashion accessory. In their ambivalence, they point to the influence of humankind – an influence that remains visible even where people are absent from the frame. The resulting compositions oscillate between documentation and metaphor: scientifically precise, yet poetically charged.

“Feathers” continues the duo’s artistic approach with unwavering clarity – sharpening our gaze for life forms and their hidden stories. In finely nuanced C-prints that render every structure in meticulous detail, the Kochs merge photographic precision with contemplative depth. Out of this seemingly light subject emerges a timeless reflection on both fragility and strength.

VITA

Heidi and Hans-Jürgen Koch have been working together as photographers for more than 30 years. A trained social worker and a behavioral scientist by education, they began their careers with magazine reportages before turning increasingly to independent, multi-layered projects that blend artistic and documentary approaches. Their work has been published worldwide and exhibited in renowned museums and galleries. The couple has published several books and created their own exhibitions. Both are members of the German Society for Photography (DGPh) and have received numerous honors, including the Dr. Erich Salomon Award — one of the most renowned and prestigious international prizes in photography. They live and work on the Baltic coast near Eckernförde.

Exhibitions

Solo Exhibitions

2022 – 2025	Fiese Gewächse und solche mit krimineller Vergangenheit, Schloss vor Husum – Husum, Germany; Wilhelm-Fabry-Museum – Hilden, Germany; Haus der Berge – Berchtesgaden, Germany; Kulturhaus Mestlin – Germany; Max Hünten Haus – Zingst, Germany; Museum Eckernförde – Germany
2024 – 2025	Federn – Poetisches Meisterwerk der Evolution, Naturwissenschaftliches Museum – Flensburg, Germany; Postplatz – Zingst, Germany
2020 – 2021	Danke, Maus!, Naturwissenschaftliches Museum – Flensburg, Germany; Wilhelm-Fabry-Museum – Hilden, Germany; Museum im Schloss – Bad Pyrmont, Germany
2009 – 2020	Bienen – Die Bestäuber der Welt, Neanderthal Museum – Mettmann, Germany; Darwineum – Rostock, Germany; Natur-Museum – Luzern, Switzerland; Central Museum – Southend on Sea, England; Apimondia – Kiev, Ukraine; Northampton Museum – Northampton, England; Biosphäre – Potsdam, Germany
2015 – 2018	Das Lebenswerk / See You, Kunsthallenhotel – Zingst, Germany
2015 – 2016	Buffalo Ballad, Nationalpark – Berchtesgaden, Germany; Naturhistorisches Museum – Wien, Austria; Festival Photo – Montier, France; Foodphoto Festival – Vejle, Denmark; GAF Galerie – Hannover, Germany
2007 – 2018	Blaschka – Gläserne Geschöpfe des Meeres, Kunstgewerbemuseum – Dresden, Germany; Rheinisches Landesmuseum – Bonn, Germany; Übersee-Museum – Bremen, Germany; Musée d’Histoire Naturelle – Luxembourg; Darwineum – Rostock, Germany; Nationalpark – Berchtesgaden, Germany
2013 – 2015	Koch_Work, Deutsches Zeitungsmuseum – Wadgassen, Germany; Stadtmuseum – Schleswig, Germany
2012 – 2011	4 Projects – 50 Images, Fotomessen – Stockholm, Sweden; Oslo, Norway; Copenhagen, Denmark
2012	Comme nous, Festival Photo – La Gacilly, France
2005	Primate Couture, FREELENS Gallery – Hamburg, Germany; Zoo Scheune – Krefeld, Germany; Deutsches Textilmuseum – Krefeld, Germany
1998	Fischmarkt, Fischereihallen – Cuxhaven, Germany
1996	Der Hahn, die Henne, das Ei, Theater – Itzehoe, Germany; Townhall – Neustadt, Germany

Group Exhibitions

2025	Werbebilder – Bilder, die verführen, Kunstraum Gewerbepark Süd – Hilden, Germany
2025	Freelens – Die Gründerinnen*, Freelens Galerie – Hamburg, Germany
2024	10 Jahre GAF – 100 Bilder, GAF Galerie – Hannover, Germany
2023	Faszination Schmetterling, Naturwissenschaftliches Museum – Flensburg, Germany
2020 – 2023	Images from Science, Northern Illinois University – USA; RIT City Art Space – Rochester, USA; Johns Hopkins University – Baltimore, USA; Haus der Wissenschaft – Braunschweig, Germany; SPAS Gallery, Rochester Institute of Technology – USA; über 35 internationale Stationen
2014 – 2020	Weltbilder – Terra Mater, Hangar 7 – Salzburg, Austria; Senckenberg Museum – Frankfurt, Germany
2017 – 2018	Leben 24/7 – 100 Jahre NIKON, NRW Forum – Düsseldorf, Germany; Zürich, Switzerland
2014 – 2018	Grandiose Naturdokumente, Photo Festival Horizonte – Zingst, Germany
2017	Best of Highlights, Photo Festival Horizonte – Zingst, Germany
2016	Wunder der Natur, Gasometer – Oberhausen, Germany
2015 – 2010 – 2007	Wissenschaftsfotografie, Haus der Wissenschaft – Bremen, Germany; weitere Wissenschaftszentren in Deutschland
2013 – 2014	Wild & Precious, Natural History Museum – London, UK; CITES Congress – Bangkok, Thailand
2013	Visual Leader 2013, Deichtorhallen – Hamburg, Germany
2011	Bodenschätze, Centre Pro Natura de Champ-Pittet – Switzerland
2011	Glasklar, Gewerbemuseum – Winterthur, Switzerland
2007 – 2010	Senses, Naturalis – Leiden, Netherlands; Experimentarium – Hellerup, Denmark; Belgium
2000 – 2009	World Press Photo Exhibition, Amsterdam, Netherlands; internationale Wanderausstellung (weltweit)
2009	Mare – My Favorites, Galleria 10b Photography – Rome, Italy
2006 – 2007	Evolution, Deutsches Hygiene-Museum – Dresden, Germany; Città della Scienza – Naples, Italy
2007	Green Art Festival, Seoul, Korea
2007	Alive, Paris, France; Le Tourp, France; Zürich, Basel, Bern, Geneva, Lausanne – Switzerland

INTERVIEW

Picasso once said, “You don't make art, you find it.”

Where do you find your art?

In your innermost being, of course, somehow and somewhere between your head and your gut. It's like with quantum particles. You can't say exactly where they are either. We just pick and choose the ingredients for our very own universe. This results in a conglomerate that we are usually not consciously aware of, thank God, because otherwise we would probably need professional help.

From idea to realization: How do you approach your work?

That depends on the subject. But actually, we have our images in our heads and just have to collect the motifs (see the Picasso quote above). That's the best-case scenario. As we all know, reality sometimes has other ideas. When working in the studio, we do a lot of “trying things out.” Let's call this approach “playing with possibilities.” Most of the time, it's not easy. What we do is certainly our passion, our dedication and enthusiasm. But passion also means suffering. Yes, we are capable of suffering in our work until it is realized.

Your favorite book?

The one book you'd take to a desert island? That's too difficult a question. It wouldn't be fair to the other authors. But here's a hint: “Me and the Others” by Matt Ruff. A really strangely funny road trip by two multiple personalities through the landscapes of America and the mind. We like that kind of thing. Both of us.

Which artist would you like to have coffee with and what would you talk about?

Since they're all dead, we have free choice. We would have liked to meet Peter Beard and talk about how to master life.

How did you get into art?

Our roots lie in magazine photography. Over the years, we have moved away from one-dimensional commissioned work toward free, multi-layered projects in order to realize what drives us. We call this conglomerate of our very own perspective “life form photography.” Since expression is always preceded by impression, our work is always an expression of an attitude. We're working on it. Roger Ballen once said in an interview, “Juggling a ball is boring.” He's right.

Which people in your environment influence you?

That's obvious. We live and work together. It's been working well for a long time. We're now pretty much on the same wavelength. But of course we are two people with different characters and preferences. Further details are a trade secret. We wouldn't want to do without the constant exchange, but it doesn't speed things up either.

Imagine you have a time machine. Where would you travel to?

Back to the future! In search of the wrong turns. Since we would probably make the same mistakes over and over again, we would end up in the present. Damn!

What is your greatest passion outside of art?

Being somewhere else—and then, if possible, having breakfast with sunglasses on to start the new day.