Site 14, 2002—2006 - Thomas Flechtner

In Swiss artist Thomas Flechtner's photographs, snow is not only subject—it is a metaphysical being, a psychological state. Taken in Switzerland, Iceland, and Greenland in remote, freezing destinations the artist often reached on skis, the images in his series Snow capture not only the lonely beauty of snowy landscapes but also the relationship between humanity and the elements: buildings buried in winter, trails cut by skis in the ice, and barren environments obliterated by a blizzard.

In contrast, Flechtner's colorful series Sakura and Sites explore the movement and vibrancy of the natural world. From the wild cherry blossoms of Japan to the synthetic turfs of the Netherlands, these photographs of plants taken at close range show flowers sometimes as delicate and ephemeral, other times as sculptural forms.Read Less