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Rainbows, Robots, Space and Ice Cream
Rainbows, Robots, Space and Ice Cream
Jan von Holleben
May 6, 2025
The "horizons zingst" Environmental Photo Festival is taking place for the 18th time, and this year’s edition is dedicated to the complex topic of Resources. With its well-established approach, the festival combines photography with social relevance, creating space for discussion, reflection and inspiration, all set within the extraordinary atmosphere of the Baltic Sea Spa town of Zingst. One of the particular highlights is the return to the event of the award-winning photographer Jan von Holleben.
Developed especially for "horizons zingst" in collaboration with festival curator Edda Fahrenhorst, the Rainbowrobotouterspaceicecream project will celebrate its premiere on May 23, at 6pm. The imaginative and meaningful display reflects how close art and educational work can be combined.
Floating waste recycling machines, ice cream on a stick on the moon, jet shoes and fair election robots: close to 500 primary school children from Zingst and the neighbouring area put their ideas for a better future down on paper. Based on those creative drawings and stories, 150 pupils were chosen to work with Jan von Holleben to turn their visions into photographs. The result is a series of colourful and playful images that, while making viewers smile at a first glance, also touch them with their seriousness.
"It is certainly a recurring issue in our society that we deny children certain skills or even belittle them. Over the past 20 years, I have found that children have a great understanding of and clear opinions concerning difficult or complex issues," Holleben said in an interview. Around half of the photographer’s projects are produced with children – not merely as extras, but as creative partners on equal footing. His work plays with the boundary between reality and imagination, raises questions about the authenticity of photographic content and encourages us to take a critical view of the images that circulate on social media every day.
In order to pursue this goal over the long term, Holleben established the Kids Love Photography initiative, a European network promoting visual literacy among children. The aim is to enable young people to navigate the digital world critically and with confidence – especially when dealing with image manipulation, fake news and media overload.
In addition to exhibiting the 2024 Leica Oskar Barnack Award winning series, Critical Minerals – Geography of Energy by Davide Monteleone, "horizons zingst" will also present work by Sarah Palmer, Irina Werning, Paolo Woods, Gabriele Galimberti, Pablo Piovano and many more. Photography workshops, panel discussions, artist talks and guided tours offer exciting insights and round off the diverse programme for visitors to the festival.
Pauline KnappschneiderDeveloped especially for "horizons zingst" in collaboration with festival curator Edda Fahrenhorst, the Rainbowrobotouterspaceicecream project will celebrate its premiere on May 23, at 6pm. The imaginative and meaningful display reflects how close art and educational work can be combined.
Floating waste recycling machines, ice cream on a stick on the moon, jet shoes and fair election robots: close to 500 primary school children from Zingst and the neighbouring area put their ideas for a better future down on paper. Based on those creative drawings and stories, 150 pupils were chosen to work with Jan von Holleben to turn their visions into photographs. The result is a series of colourful and playful images that, while making viewers smile at a first glance, also touch them with their seriousness.
"It is certainly a recurring issue in our society that we deny children certain skills or even belittle them. Over the past 20 years, I have found that children have a great understanding of and clear opinions concerning difficult or complex issues," Holleben said in an interview. Around half of the photographer’s projects are produced with children – not merely as extras, but as creative partners on equal footing. His work plays with the boundary between reality and imagination, raises questions about the authenticity of photographic content and encourages us to take a critical view of the images that circulate on social media every day.
In order to pursue this goal over the long term, Holleben established the Kids Love Photography initiative, a European network promoting visual literacy among children. The aim is to enable young people to navigate the digital world critically and with confidence – especially when dealing with image manipulation, fake news and media overload.
In addition to exhibiting the 2024 Leica Oskar Barnack Award winning series, Critical Minerals – Geography of Energy by Davide Monteleone, "horizons zingst" will also present work by Sarah Palmer, Irina Werning, Paolo Woods, Gabriele Galimberti, Pablo Piovano and many more. Photography workshops, panel discussions, artist talks and guided tours offer exciting insights and round off the diverse programme for visitors to the festival.
ALL IMAGES ON THIS PAGE: © Jan von Holleben
EQUIPMENT: Leica SL3, Vario-Elmarit-SL 24-90 f/2.8-4 Asph, Sigma 24-70 f/2.8
Jan von Holleben+-
Born in 1977, Von Holleben began taking photographs when he was just 13. He first studied Disability Education, then graduated in Theory and History of Photography from the Surrey Institute of Art and Design in London. He was a photo editor and artistic director, and set up two photographer groups, before returning himself to photography, causing a sensation, in particular, with his distinctive layered work. His best known series is Dreams of Flying. He lives with his family in Berlin. More
© David Garbe
© Holger Martens
© Holger Martens
© Holger Martens
© David Garbe
© Holger Martens