Where does reality end and fantasy begin?
Hundreds of meters above the ground, strapped into a climbing harness and hanging out of a helicopter, Zirwes  captures graphic and abstract open spaces. Photographs from all over the world  blur the boundaries between reality and fiction: what is real seems artificial and vice versa.

His work depicts patterns, structures, connections, borders, uniformity and contrasts as well as  current political and socio-critical themes. The perspectives from which his photographs are shot reduce the space to two dimensions  On a superficial level,  the pictures do not tell a story, but instead provide an impartial, aesthetic view of an authentic image. The content of the picture, through its abstract appearance, appears to be perfect – out of reach, yet recognizable.

However, on drawing closer, the dots and lines begin to unscramble, they become humans beings, buildings and recognizable shapes. Many  more details such as the terrain, people and traces of their actions are revealed. The right to humanity is the artist's leitmotif. Past, present and future are combined.

Implements are used to magnify the image: the goal is to create an ariificial reality that raises the stakes in terms of content as well as visually. And, the spectator is left wondering whether the scene is reality or fiction.

EDUCATION

EXHIBITIONS (selection)

2011

• Villa de Arte Galleries. Barcelona, Spain
• AAF New York. Villa del Arte Galleries, Barcelona, Spain. New York, USA
• Photo LA. Villa del Arte Galleries, Barcelona, Spain. Los Angeles, USA
• LA Art Show. Villa del Arte Galleries, Barcelona, Spain. Los Angeles, USA
• Art Karlsruhe. Villa del Arte Galleries, Barcelona, Spain. Karlsrure, Germany
• San Francisco Fine Art. Villa del Arte Galleries, Barcelona, Spain. San Francisco, USA

2010

• Villa de Arte Galleries. Barcelona, Spain
• Art Hamptons. Villa del Arte Galleries, Barcelona, Spain. New York, USA
• Art Karlsruhe. Villa del Arte Galleries, Barcelona, Spain. Karlsrure, Germany
• AAF London. Villa del Arte Galleries, Barcelona, Spain. London, UK
• Art Miami. Villa del Arte Galleries, Barcelona, Spain. Florida, USA
• SF MOMA, "How wine became modern". San Francisco, USA
• Jeonju Photofestival. South Korea
• Baltic Biennale. St. Petersburg, Russia
• DNA, Photokina. Cologne, Germany

2009

• ART Miami. Florida, USA
• The Empty Quarter. Dubai, United Arab Emirate

2007

• Museum of Contemporary Arts. Gera, Germany
• Zone 02 leisure, Eigen Art Gallery, Raum für Kunst. Stuttgart, Germany
• Anderswo - BFF, House of Economics. Stuttgart, Germany
• Fokus 0711 Fotosommer, city hall. Stuttgart, Germany

2006

• Photography project Rover, Long Night of the Museums. Stuttgart, Germany
• Kunstschuss, Lead Award 2006. Deichtorhallen, Hamburg, Germany

2005

• Shanghai – 20 Millionen-Metropole- Part 2, Long Night of the
• Museums. Stuttgart, Germany

2004

• Cairo 20 Millionen Metropole- Part 1, Eigen Art Gallery.

AWARDS (selection)

2009

• Winner of the Hasselblad Masters Award
• Sony World Photographer Award. Fine Art, Short List
• BFF Awards gold and silver

2008

• Award at the Aenne-Biermann-Preis, Museum of Contemporary Arts. Gera, Germany

2006

• Visual Leader, Lead Awards 2006 for a photography series for the soccer magazin "11 Freunde"

2004

• Intermedia Globe GOLD, World Media Festivals 2004
• Finalist Winner New York Festivals 2004

2003

• Silver medal, "Mubea-emotions", International Calendar Show

2002

• Award BFF-Exhibition "50 Jahre Baden-Württemberg