Event Horizon: it's a stunner

No weekend plans yet? Consider visiting Kacper Kowalski's new solo exhibition. From February 4 to March 11, discover the impressive images he captured from the air.

No (weekend) plans yet? It might be an idea to visit Kacper Kowalski's new solo exhibition. From February 4 to March 11, marvel at the impressive images he captured from the air. Come and see…

After working as an architect for four years, Kacper Kowalski (1977, Poland) finally decided to concentrate on flying and photography – his true passions. As a paraglider, a pilot of small planes and gyrocopters, Kowalski took to the skies with an engine on his back to discover the world, its shapes and patterns during solitary flights.

Kowalski's photographs, shot from 150 meters above the frozen water, are particularly impressive, showing a natural spectacle that looks like an abstract painting.

Pushing boundaries

Event Horizon is a sequel to his series Arche, but for his latest work Kowalski pushes the boundaries even more. Driven by his instinct to create bold and spectacular images of winter landscapes, he shows his home country Poland from a perspective that remains hidden from most people. Extreme weather conditions could not stop the photographer. And the result is impressive.  

“Whether it was fog or snow, frost or thaw, I took to the air with my motorized paraglider to see if it was possible to fly. If I could, I would fly over the frozen water, circling above the glistening structure of the ice, fascinated by the shapes, to experience the feeling of overview and take photos.” 

In total, Kowalski spent more than 5000 hours in the air. Constantly battling the forces of the wind and air currents at a height of 150 meters, he says he is in an almost meditative state, where nature and the environment not only show him abstract shapes, but they also seem to communicate with him through the language of symbols that appear in his photographs. 

Bildhalle

Kowalski has already received numerous awards, including three times the World Press Photo Prize and six times the Picture of the Year International POYi Award. His first book, Side Effects, was published in 2014, ABOUT US was self-published in 2017, followed by Arche in 2021.

More information about all the photographer's projects? Click here for the website. 

Event Horizon can be seen from March 4 to 11 in the Bildhalle on Willemsparkweg, Amsterdam.