Futureproofing

Frederik van den Berg

 

Process.

Before 2020, my schedule was mostly focused around commercial photography in the outdoor, tourism and hospitality sectors. The pandemic cleared my schedule indefinitely, so I began taking photos for myself again. Through an intense process of continuous photographic output I began questioning my underlying motivations for using the medium of photography. In doing so, I have identified a new direction for my work, hopefully paving the way to new endeavors in the coming years.

Project.

‘Futureproofing’ is also the title of a photographic research project. Through this project I am exploring landscapes in a new way, pairing images as an exercise in storytelling and suggestive composition.

‘Futureproofing’ is an ongoing photographic research project aiming to visualize our measures to shape a sustainable habitat for humanity.

 

Research. Conceptualization. Planning.

Outreach. Scheduling. Photographing. Editing.

Coffee Drinking. Website Updates. Social Media.

Proposals. Writing. Accounting.

Funding. Competitions. Pitches.

...etc.

 
 
 
 
FVDB_Futureproofing_OverheadSample_IMG_20210928_152824_10_058.jpg
 

Futureproofing - Project

 
2021-09-09_GotthardEnergy3 (1).png

Goals

Futureproofing is an artistic-documentarian examination of contradictions, contrasts and poetic associations, which will include visual representations of measures to reach the UN’s Sustainability Development Goals as well as regional, national, and personal goals to shape a sustainable habitat for humanity.

 

Pairing

The pairs of images in the investigation show not only the consequences of climate change, but also – in contrast – people and projects that are driving change through action and innovation. The collection aims to provide an overall picture of those who dedicate themselves to our future and thus inspire us to tackle the challenge with hope and optimism.

Frederik van den Berg

 

Frederik van den Berg is a Dutch/German photographer based in Zurich with an ever-growing appreciation of the great outdoors. He works with regional and international clients in tourism, sports, interiors, food and travel. He’s passionate about fresh air and snow-covered mountains, and is exploring various long term projects related to disappearing landscapes and our relationship with nature.

Perspectives

  • Florian Spring - The Pack

    For some time now I have been dealing with my family history, which has its roots in Ticino. I am following its myths and researching the geographic reality. Together with an ethnologist and genealogist I am searching for a long forgotten story.

  • Marion Bernet - Unselected

    The pictures we show in an exhibition are only a fragment of the photos we take. There are the blurry ones, the too dark or too bright ones, the ones that were better from a different angle or the ones that are just too ordinary or don’t tell a story. Instead of showing a finished selection in this exhibition, the unselected pictures of my longterm project about binational relationships are on display.

    The visitor becomes the curator by making a selection out of the unselected.

  • Dirk Weiss - Woodcabinet

    The process of finding suitable trees for my project, inevitably lead me into the forest. The installation is trying to transport the atmosphere found in that forest into a room using image, sound and smell.

    The installation is about the experience - forest.

  • Jonathan Liechti - Research «Domestic violence»

    Domestic violence is a theoretical and complex topic. Much sensitivity, respect and restraint are necessary. It is hardly possible to depict this topic with a reportage. This is one reason why domestic violence is rarely addressed visually. Before a picture can be taken, elaborate and comprehensive research is necessary.

  • Misha Bushkov - Preservation of photographic films

    My daily photographic practice is largely based on working with color negatives - a particularly unstable medium. When not stored properly, developed color negatives lose 20-30% of their color intensity within 10 years. My installation at the “work in progress” exhibition plays with my own obsessive (and irrational) desire to preserve my color negatives for as long as humanly possible.

  • Anja Wurm - Can we go back to nature?

    Never since the beginning of human history we’ve had a more comfortable life than now. Despite the many advantages of today‘s society, we are living increasingly unhealthy.

    9% of the Swiss population suffer from depression.

    I want to investigate the history of mankind, why we settled down even though this meant a loss of quality of life and whether we can turn back the wheel of time.

  • Frederik van den Berg - Futureproofing

    In an age of multitasking and hyper-productivity, it’s difficult to find time for new ideas. Once found, they are scrutinized for their effective worth. What is the project about? Who is the audience? Why should they care? ‘Proof of concept’ is complicated in the creative space. This installation shows a stream of work over several weeks, navigating the process of a photographic research project.

  • Pedro Rodrigues - change in alpine landscape

    With climate change, not only are the glaciers melting, but large areas of permafrost are also being thawed. If the temperature rises by more than 1.5 degrees, the permafrost melts and rock is loosened.

    Pedro Rodrigues' work includes the thematic visualization of the landslide in the Upper Valais region.

  • Simon von Gunten - Si gäbä eim doch so viu zrügg

    All things in life really only gain their value from the fact that nothing lasts forever. For me personally, this has become increasingly apparent after the birth of my two children. They inhibited my accustomed way of photographic production, but finally also added their part to my work, expanding my scope and view of the world.